Mills Newell Franklin, Jr.

Name:

Newell Franklin, Jr. Mills

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-827247

Unit:

354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1945-04-07

State:

California

Cemetery:

Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium

Plot:

Tablets of the Missing

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters

Comments:

When Newell Franklin Mills, Jr. was born on May 1, 1923, in Idaho, his father, Newell, was 34 and his mother, Edna, was 28. He had two brothers and one sister. Newell Mills attended Saint Petersburgh High School in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Statement from Paul W. Vineyard, Jr.
"I was flying Falcon Green #3 in Lt Mill's flight the 7th of April, 1945. We were flying escort to B-24's at about 25,000 ft. Jets were reported in the area when we were SE of Bremen and although out flight made several orbits we found nothing. Approximately 1215 we headed up along the right side of the bomber track when a ME 109 flew thru our flight. My wingman and I took off after him and to the best of my knowledge Lt Mills and his wingman flew on along with the bombers. There were many K/A in the area SE of the bombers and as my wingman and I had a few brief encounters we did not rejoin Lt Mills. After leaving him, I never heard Lt Mills or his wingman on the radio and it was the last we saw them."

He is still Missing in Action and memorialized on Tablets of the Missing, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.