Zeigler, Illinois Website

Sgt. Chester H. Mitchell U.S. Army Air Force 1944

Chester Mitchell was born January 1, 1924. After his graduation from Zeigler Community High School he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force on September 27, 1943. Following flight training as a Tail Gunner, Mitchell was shipped to England where he flew B-17’s with the 8th. Air Force. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On October 17, 1944 Sergeant Mitchell’s plane sustained major damage from flack while on a bomb run over Cologne, Germany. The plane was severed in half, but Mitchell managed to escape from the tail section before it crashed. Upon landing, he was captured by German troops and shipped to Stalag where he remained for more than ten months. During the latter days of the war, he escaped from German soldiers and was soon rescued by British troops.

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