Lt. Newell Mills 355 FG, 354FS lost April 7,1945

[kaki3152]

While perusing the list of identified MIA cases on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Website (https://www.dpaa.mil/) , I came across the case of Lt. Newell Miller who was just identified on March 7. 2022. He along with his wingman, Lt. Gilbert M. Plowman disappeared on April 7,1945 while flying with the 354th FS. Lt. Plowman was identified earlier after his body was found in a graveyard at Gilten, Germany.

My question is what was the cause of their demise? In the DPAA Website, it is said that he was shot down by an enemy fighter. In the 355th FG History by Marshall, their loss is listed as a possible collision. In the book "The Last Flight of the Luftwaffe" by Adrian Weir, both are listed as being shot down.by Luftwaffe fighters. Another source has their loss as a possible collision.

Does anyone know of any evidence that they were lost to Luftwaffe fighters?

[Revi16]

Mills 44-72306 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91148573


Plowman 44-15346 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91148558

[RSwank]

It is interesting that that MACR for Mills includes a map which has an "X" indicating the location of an "Accident", while there is no other reference or mention of an accident in either MACR. The "accident" seems to be roughly were the two planes crashed, as discussed in this previous thread:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=29905

"both Plowman and Mills crashed between Schwarmstadt and Gilten about a mile apart"


The map may have come from a MACR or after action report by someone in one of the B-24s or with another fighter group who witnessed the "Accident" involving the P-51s.


This link, for example, reports they collided: https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/...?PeopleID=7359

Mills: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/163092

Press Release on Mills: https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Ne...ar-ii-mills-n/

[kaki3152]

Thanks RSwank. I find it interesting that the final ID of Lt. Mills was accomplished so recently, about two months ago. I'm also leaning to conclude that it was a collision. Guess we'll never know.

[RSwank]

Find A Grave ("some" of the confusion explained):

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...franklin-mills


Recent story on finding Mills:

https://kobi5.com/news/medford-woman...n-wwii-187482/

[ssg keay]

This is interesting indeed. I was involved in the 2004 story. The German team that had excavated the P-38 had located human remains and failed to report them to either the German police, or US Mortuary Affairs, in Landstuhl, GE. I escorted Mortuary Affairs as translator to retrieve the human remains and material evidence. Back then everyone thought the remains belonged to LT. Pascal. I never knew back then that LT. Pascal had a supposed grave holding Mills remains instead. Quite shocking that it took DPAA 14 years to make the final identification and confirmation that it was LT. Mills instead.