World War II Honoree

Charles Mitchell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Akron, Ohio

Honored By

An Indebted American

ENLISTED IN 1942. ASSIGNED TO BOMBER PILOT TRAINING AND THEN TO THE 447TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 709TH SQUADRON, FLYING MISSIONS FROM ENGLAND TO TARGETS ACROSS NORTHERN EUROPE. PILOTED A B-17 AIRCRAFT, BATTLING GERMAN FIGHTERS AND FLAK (ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE) WHILE FLYING TO TARGETS. IN MAY, 1944, AFTER A DOZEN MISSIONS, CAME THE FLIGHT OVER LIEGE, BELGIUM. FLAK KNOCKED OUT THREE OF THE BOMBER’S FOUR ENGINES. WHEN THE FOURTH ENGINE FAILED, THE CREW BAILED OUT. HE LANDED IN THE BELGIUM UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE. HE WAS PROVIDED WITH FAKE IDENTITY FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS WITH MUCH OF THE TIME SPENT UNDERGROUND. FOLLOWING THE D-DAY INVASION, HE JOINED THREE OTHER MEN AND LEFT BELGIUM. THE GROUP MET FORWARD UNITS OF THE U.S. ARMY 7TH ARMORED DIVISION. FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEY WERE PRESSED INTO SERVICE AS INFANTRYMEN AND GIVEN RIFLES, HELMETS, AND UNIFORMS. EVENTUALLY, THE GROUP WAS UNITED WITH THEIR ORIGINAL OUTFITS.