George Derr Mitchell was born on December 30, 1920, in New York. He was the son of George P. Mitchell. He enlisted in the service on November 10, 1942. He served in the 775th Bomb Squadron, 463rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-17 #42-31685 nicknamed 'Pete's Playhouse' during World War II.

On May 10, 1944, the “Pete’s Playhouse” took part in a bombing mission against the important German industrial target at Wiener Neustadt, Austria. As part of the 15th Air Force operating from Italy, the aircraft and its crew flew deep into heavily defended enemy territory, where intense anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition were common. During the mission, the bomber was hit by German flak, severely damaging the aircraft. Unable to maintain formation or safely return to base, the crew was forced to abandon the aircraft or attempt to control it as it descended. The B-17 ultimately crashed near Vöstenhof, southwest of Wiener Neustadt. Of the ten-man crew, five were killed in action, while five managed to survive and were captured, becoming prisoners of war.

TSgt Mitchell parachuted from his flaming aircraft and was captured near Sieding-Stixenstein, Austria; he was subsequently taken to Stalag Luft 4 in Gross Tychow, Poland, and held as a prisoner of war until his liberation in April 1945. He died on February 6, 2007, and is now buried in the Saint Peter's Cemetery, Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, americanarchive.iwm.org.uk