Paul Graham Mitchell (1919 - 1943)

Born 26 Jun 1919 in Washington D.C., United States

Ancestors

Died 11 Aug 1943 at age 24 in Italy

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Biography

2Lt Paul Mitchell was Killed in Action during World War II.

Paul Mitchell is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron 1942-1943
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

Paul Mitchell was awarded the Purple Heart.

Paul was born in 1919. He was the son of Harry G. Mitchell and Pauline Graham. He was born in the District of Columbia, attended Birney School, and graduated from Cardozo High School cadet corps as a major. He was attending Hampton institute when he registered for the draft in1940.^[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in structural engineering. After graduating, he worked with the director of the Building and Grounds Department at Howard University. After he was drafted, Paul entered the Tuskegee Air Pilot Program, earning his wings and commission on July 3, 1942. He was assigned to the 99th Squadron based in North Africa at the time. In April of 1943 his squadron began the trip overseas, embarking from New York to Casablanca, Morocco and then Tunisia. ^[2]

Just one month after landing in the North African Theatre, Paul was sent to a specially prepared airdrome to receive combat training to carry out a successful mission on the Italian island of Pantelleria. He and his fellow airmen flew P-40 Warhawks as part of the air cover for bombers that destroyed the Italian base when it had been taken over by the enemy.^[3] In early August of 1943, Lt. Paul G Mitchell flew from a field in Sicily to dive bomb enemy troops and installations on the islands after it had been invaded.

On August 11, 1943, Paul crashed his P-40 Warhawk in midair with another plane in his formation. He was the 3rd Tuskegee fighter pilot to be lost in action. In December he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement while participating in 10 sorties against the enemy". A housing project was erected in his honor at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama.^[4] A memorial service was planned for Paul at St. Phillip's Church in Washington DC on Sept 25, 1943.^[5]

In July of 1948, his body was returned to the United States for burial in Arlington Cemetery.^[6] On July 26th, a reburial service was held at Arlington Cemetery. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Evening Star, 25 Jul 1948, pg.25.
2. ↑ Barry Farm-Hillsdale in Anacostia, A Historic African American Community; Alcione M. Amos; published 2021 ISBN 9781467147699, pg. 93
3. ↑ The Pittsburgh Courier, 19 Jun 1943, pg 1.
4. ↑ Alabama Citizen, 23 Sep 1944, pg. 1.
5. ↑ Evening Star, 24 Sept 1943, pg. 6.
6. ↑ Evening Star, Jul 7, 1948, pg. 10
7. ↑ Evening Star, 25 Jul 1948, pg. 25.

• "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #87752017 : accessed 6 November 2022), Memorial page for 1LT Paul Graham Mitchell (26 Jun 1919-11 Aug 1943), citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA (plot: Section 12, Site 4334); Maintained by Anne Cady (contributor 46985237).