Donald Oliver Mills

Military
media-15002.jpeg UPL 15002 Original caption : "A bomber crew of the 96th Bomb Group led by Second Lieutenant Charles Geyer, with their B-17 Flying Fortress." Picture taken on 3 October 1943.
Détails : Front row, left to right : Pilot Charles F. Geyer ; Co-Pilot Robert P. Surdez Jr, Bombardier Donald O. Mills, Navigator William J. Doherty. Back row, left to right : Ball Turret Gunner Edward L. Lantron, Radio Operator Melvin H. Litke (*), Tail Gunner James A. Parker, Top Turret Gunner Frank J. Killarney, Left Waist Gunner Alexander J. Guilianelli and Right Waist Gunner Everett J. Missey (*).
(*) Melvin Litke and Everett Missey were not on board Geyer’s 42-3439 on the 10 October mission when that aircraft was shot down. They had been replaced for that mission by, respectively, Aaron M. Becker and Charles R. Randel, who were both killed. Everett Missey was killed on the 16 December mission and Melvin Litke finished his tour with 50 missions to his credit.

Détails on personnel in crew picture

Object Number - UPL 15002 - Original caption : "A bomber crew of the 96th Bomb Group led by Second Lieutenant Charles Geyer, with their B-17 Flying Fortress." Picture taken on 3...

Bombardier on B-17 42-3439 of 96th Bomber Group / 413th Bomber Squadron, shot down 20 October 1943. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 1018. Evaded capture - Escape & Evasion Report E&E 279.

Landed in parachute near Sint-Oedenrode, The Netherlands. He was helped by many Dutch, Belgian and French patriots on his way to the Spanish border, which he crossed on 6 December 1943 together with two other airmen. Arrived at Gibraltar on 17 December 1943 and was flown back from there, arriving in England on 20 December 1943.

See the Geyer crew pages at http://www.aircrewremembered.com/gallery/index.php?/category/5

See the page about his evasion with the help of the Belgian COMETE evasion network at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fmillsdo.html

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12155334
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31016678 and O-736630
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14078651 and O-793406
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33273658
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32416220
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Promoted

Californie, United States 1 August 1917

Enlisted

San Francisco, California, United States 15 January 1942 Enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

Evaded

The Netherlands, Belgium, France 20 October 1943 - 20 December 1943 Evaded capture. Helped by the Belgian COMETE evasion network

Died

Fredericksburg, Texas, United States 15 April 2003
San Francisco, California, United States

Enlisted

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website addresses

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate record to include information from :
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1018;
Snetterton Falcons pg 60 & 76

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added locations for his evasion

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 1018
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 279
Research on him and his crew for website www.evasioncomete.org

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Donald Oliver Mills: Gallery (1 items)