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Personal info

Full name
MITTS, Homer J Jr
Date of birth
28 May 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
Hamilton County, Tennessee
Hometown
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee

Military service

Service number
34364935
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
17 August 1943
Place of death
Balen, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 6 32

Immediate family

Members
Homer J. Mitts (father)
Katherin (Golen) Mitts (mother)
Jean Mitts (sister)
Winifred Mitts (sister)
Russell Mitts (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5225
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: V-Packette aka Stormy Weather
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the KugelFisher ball bearing plants
MACR: 280

More information

Sgt Homer J. Mitts Jr. graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1940 and worked for the Gilman Paint & Varnish Co.

He enlisted at Fort Oglehorpe, Georgia on 17 August 1942 with the intention of becoming an aircraft mechanic. He completed five missions.

The aircraft was shot down by Lt Artur Beese in a Fw-190A of JG 26/1. Two crew members were taken prisoner, eight were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery for allied soldiers in Fort III in Deurne, Belgium on 20 August 1943.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.8thafhs.com, www.joebaugher.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.usmilitariaforum.com, https://etvma.org
Photo source: Jac Engels, Jan Peter Koeleman, www.newspapers.com - Chattanooga Daily Times 29 August 1943