Loss of 2Lt. Henry Donald MITCHELL - July 8th, 1944

[Kurtl12]

Gentlemen, who knows something about the loss of 2Lt. Henry Donald MITCHELL? He flew a P-38J of 14. FG, 48. Sqd. and probably is MIA since July 8th, 1944. I'm looking forward for anything about him and any help is greatly appreciated. - Kurtl

[Laurent Rizzotti]

According to http://raf-112-squadron.org/14thfghonor_roll42_43.html, he was killed on 8 July 1944 in an air battle in Vienna area, shot down by Hptm. Lothar Baumann of Stab I./JG 77 who claimed a P-38 shot down near Lambordy. Another pilot of 14th FG, Bernard Martin, was shot down and killed during the same mission, and according to the above page shot down by Uffz. Schmitt of 3./ZG 76 north of St. Polten at 1012 hrs.

But another source (a list of German victories by Jim Perry) lists the victory of Hptm. Lothar Baumann of Stab I./JG 77 at 1105 hrs over Lombardy, so placing it over Northern Italy rather than Austria. At this date Stab, I and II./JG 77 were all based in Italy.

So we have two US losses against two German claims, one over Austria at the start of the battle and one over N Italy rather at the end.