bluenose ray mitchell

Original Painting depicting Lt. Ray Mitchell of the 352nd FG in WWII

Flying on Lt. Jim "Duke" Lambright's wing, Lt. Ray Mitchell used this, his assigned aircraft to shoot down an Me 109 from JG 27 during the big air battle that took place on December 25, 1944.

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Ray Mitchell enlisted in the Army Air Force Cadet Program in June of 1942 and was called to active duty on January 3, 1943 reporting to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas for pre-flight training. Ray graduated from advanced flight training at Eagle Pass, Texas on November 3,1943 and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. From there he went on to fighter combat training at Hillsboro, Florida and had 95 hours in a P-51 before being shipped to England to join the 352nd Fighter Group in July, 1944 .

Lt. Mitchell's first combat mission was a 5 hour and 15 minute escort mission to Chalon, France on August 12, 1944. Ray was a member of the 328th FS until he left the 352nd FG on April 29, 1945. At that time he had flown 69 combat missions and logged 276 hours of combat operational time. Mitchell was credited with the destruction of one Me109 in air combat and destroyed considerable ground facilities. He was awarded the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Ray was released from active duty September 5, 1945 but remained in the Reserves as an Installations Engineering Officer. He retired in July of 1969 with the rank of Lt. Colonel .

Lt. Ray Mitchell poses in a P-51B cockpit on the left. He is pictured with his ground crew (centre) in front of their assigned aircraft, "Carol" while based at A-84 Chievres, Belgium during the Winter of 1945 and in the cockpit of "Carol". The swastika under the windscreen indicates that this photo was taken after the December 25, 1944 mission.

Lt. Ray Mitchell departs for a mission in "Carol" his P-51D from the snow covered airstrip at A-84 Chievres, Belgium. The European winter of 1944-45 was one of the coldest on record.

Photos copyright ©352nd FG Association via Sam Sox . Used with permission.

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