Lewis Mixner
Military
James S. Ritter Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing Left to Right: James T. Moser (FE), Homer Melias (TG), Patrick J. Connolly (R/O), Lewis Mixner (RWG), Walter G. Fredrick (NG)
Kneeling Left to Right: Gerald Behrens (CP), James Ritter (P), Michael Cambon (N), Franklin Smith (B)
This crew completed 10 missions with Ritter as pilot. Behrens then took over as pilot 466th Bomb Group collection
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom
Object Number - UPL 15919 - Crew #642 James S. Ritter Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: James T. Moser (FE), Homer Melias (TG), Patrick J. Connolly (R/O),...
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: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-767974
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-693067
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Greenwich, NJ, USA | 30 March 1913 | |
|
Died |
Wilmington, DE, USA | 12 February 2009 | Staff Sgt. Lewis Mixner, USAF(ret.), 95, died Thursday morning February 12, 2009 at the Veterans Hospital – Nursing Center in Wilmington, DE after a brief illness. Sgt. Mixner had been a resident of Millville and a former resident of Bilouxi, Mississippi. He was born in Greenwich on March 30, 1913 and was the son of the late Harry and Florence (nee Collins) Mixner. He was also predeceased by his companion, Leona Gazzo. Sgt. Mixner relocated to South Jersey after losing most of his belongings in the Katrina Hurricane in 2005. He had been a resident of Bilouxi for over forty years. A graduate of Bridgeton High School with the class of 1931, he became a career man in the armed forces in 1943 when he entered the US Army Air Corps. He served for more than twenty years in the United States Air Force before being honorably discharged. During his career, he saw active duty in Europe during World War II in the battles of Ardennes, Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland. As a Armorer Gunner, his "Liberator" bomber crashed in England and he was also wounded while taking part in thirty-nine different flying missions during WW II. He received the coveted Purple Heart with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He continued his military service and served the 509th Air Squadron as a refueling boom operator in the Pacific Theater and, again, he survived his plane crashing in a sugar cane field in Hawaii. He was again honored for his distinguished service. Following his discharge from the military, Sgt. Mixner worked in security at the Jefferson Davis House in Bilouxi for twenty years. He was a member of St. Michaels RC Church in Bilouxi and also a life member of the Lyman C. Bradford VFW Post #2434, also in Bilouxi and he was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Post #38 and the 8th Airforce Historical Society. Survivors include four children, Mary Lea Lechner and her husband Ronald, Jack Gazzo and his wife Debbie, Tom Gazzo and his wife Judy and Anthony Gazzo all of Bilouxi, several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Additional survivors include, two nieces, Sandy Lupton and her companion Troy Rose of Millville, who were his caregivers and Darlene Boner of Hopewell Township and many great nieces, great nephews great great nieces and great great nephews. In addition he is survived by close friends, Anna and Joe Smolich of Bilouxi. He was predeceased by a sister, Irene Davis and a brother, Charles Mixner. |
|
Enlisted |
Bridgeton, NJ, USA | 17 February 2009 | Cumberland County Veterans Cemetery Bridgeton Cumberland County New Jersey, USA |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, page 348