Walter Alvest Mize Jr
MilitaryWalter Mize was Tail Gunner and was flying on his third mission in B-17G 42-39962 on the mission to Frankfurt am Main, Germany on 11 February 1944. Damaged by fighters, the Fortress force-landed near Dieppe, France after the crew baled out. Walter Mize managed to evade capture with the help of French citizens and members of the Résistance. He crossed the Pyrénées mountains into Spain, reached Gibraltar and was back from there to the UK on 8 June 1944. Note : His middle name is often wrongly stated as being Alvin...
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-688523
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-684413
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Missions
![A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress on the 4 February 1944. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-2-44.' Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 304545. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413520.jpg.webp?itok=8ZB41rSN)
- Date: 11 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Athens, Georgia, USA | 12 August 1923 | the son of Walter A. Mize Sr and Jessie Mize |
|
Enlisted |
15 January 1943 | Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia | |
|
Other bailed out |
11 February 1944 | of B-17G 42-39962 over France, near Saint-Vaast-d'Equiqueville, South of Dieppe, France | |
|
Other evaded capture |
11 February 1944 | with the help of French citizens and members of the Résistance. Was guided through France by the "Bourgogne/Burgundy" evasion organization, crossed the Pyrénées mountains into France and reached Gibraltar. Was flown from there, arriving back in the UK on 8 June 1944. | |
|
Died |
8 July 2000 | ||
| Athens, Georgia, USA | |||
|
Buried |
Walter Mize Jr rests at the Evergreen Memorial Park Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA |
Revisions
Not POW but EVADED !
MACR 2529
WWII Draft Cards
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 716
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- MACR 2529;
- Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces,
MACR 2529 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database