Bruce Eugene Mills Jr
Military
Rear L-R: Unkn, Unkn, 2Lt James E Whitney, 1Lt Carl A Shedlock, 1Lt Bruce Eugene Mills, T/Sgt Joseph T Cooper.
Middle L-R: S/Sgt James S Boston, T/Sgt Delmer E Menger, S/Sgt Lucas S Conner, Unkn, S/Sgt William A Beddard, M/Sgt Dominick De Salvo.
Front L-R: Unkn, Unkn, Unkn.
Object Number - UPL 38701 - "A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Swamp Fire" at an 8th Air Force Base in England, 1 November...
Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DSM (OLC) LOM, DFC, AM (5OLC) / Good Conduct, UN and Korean Medal.
Post war: Re-enlisted into USAF, serving in Korean conflict.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33700498
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38631468
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball turret gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18137501
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Aircraft
![A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, and their mascot "Scragg", with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32024) nicknamed "Swamp Fire". Image via Byron Clark. A printed caption has been attached to the reverse: 'Swamp Fire First Crew. Kimbolton, May 1 1944 [handwritten annotation to this says: 'Photo Taken.']. Rear Row, L to R. Berj Bejian- Engineer & Top Turret, Roy Avery- Waist Gunner, Andrew Stroman- Ball Turret, John Rose- Waist Gunner, Elijah Lewis- Tail Gunner, Edward Pryzybyla- Radio Gun](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380040.jpg.webp?itok=ECA71LeY)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Swamp Fire
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
9 December 1920 | Son of Jesse Mills. | |
|
Enlisted |
Portland, OR | 30 October 1942 | Portland, Oregon |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
1 August 1945 | Honourable discharged. | |
|
Enlisted |
3 October 1946 | Re-Enlistment | |
|
Other Discharged USAF |
21 January 1950 | Honourable discharged. | |
|
Enlisted |
26 November 1951 | Re-Enlistment | |
|
Other Discharged USAF |
31 August 1974 | Honourable discharged. | |
|
Died |
Surprise, AZ | 18 November 1999 | |
|
Buried |
Huntington City Cemetery, UT | 20 November 1999 | Huntington City Cemetery, Huntington, Emery County, Utah |
|
Based |
Kimbolton | Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/638042142
https://www.fold3.com/record/90937253-bruce-e-mills
https://www.fold3.com/record/68165237-bruce-e-mills
https://www.fold3.com/image/48252257?terms=42-32024
https://www.fold3.com/record/529179650-bruce-mills-1920
http://8thairforce.com/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28957726/bruce-eugene-mills
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self
