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Mitchell, Douglas Seldon

Date of birth:
March 17th, 1922 (Halifax/Nova Scotia, Canada)
Date of death:
May 13th, 1943
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves Roman Catholic Cemetery Rossum
Grave: 6.
Service number:
R/88029
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Douglas was born on March 17 1922 in Halifax Nova Scotia, the son of Sterling Seldon Mitchell and Bessie Anne Mitchell nee Pineo of Waverley Nova Scotia. He had one brother and one sister.

He was a baker and member of the Baptist Church. He spoke English and French and his sports were baseball, hockey, swimming, basketball, football, skating, skiing and rugby.

He enlisted on January 30 1941 in Halifax and he went on March 20 1942 thereafter from Canada overseas to the UK.

Douglas was killed in action on Thursday May 13 1943 age 21 due to a crash near Rossum before or ager an attack on Pilsen in Czechoslovakia. The other fallen RCAF crew member was F/Sgt Wilton H. Hill age 22 in grave 1 and the other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were Sgt Francis J. Howell age 22 in grave 3, Sgt Duncan Grey age 22 in grave 7, Sgt Ernest G.R. Beacham age 20 in grave 5, Sgt Robert W. Littlefair in grave 2 and Sgt Leslie A. Dunmore age 19 in grave 6.

On his headstone: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS

He and the other fallen crew members are mentioned since March 2020 at an information sign near the crash site on the occasion of 75 years of Freedom

He served with the 106 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 2nd, 1942
Air Gunner Badge

Sources