Mitchell Haygood Moore (1920-1944)
Killed in Air Combat over Germany, November 26, 1944, World War II
Grave of Mitchell Haygood Moore, Union Church Cemetery, Lanier County, GA
Mitchell Haygood Moore, a young salesman from Sirmans, GA, was a son of Atticus H. Moore and Pearlie Belle Tomlinson. In 1943, he married Mildred Lorene Clements, of Ray City, GA. His bride was a daughter of Alma and Hosea “Hod” P. Clements.
Marriage announcement of Mildred Lorene Clements and Mitchell Haygood Moore. Clinch County News.
Clinch County News
Friday, December 3, 1943The marriage of Sgt. Mitchell Haygood Moore of Lanier county, and Miss Mildred Lorene Clements of Ray City, took place recently at the Methodist church in Ray City, Rev. L. D. McConnell officiating. Sgt Moore is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Atticus H. Moore, former Clinch county residents who were cut off into Lanier when that county was formed in 1920. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hosea C. Clements of Ray City.
It was in the midst of WWII and Moore was as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force. Other Ray City AAF men included B-26 pilot James Swindle, B-24 pilot Max Maurice Johnson, and flying officer Jim Paulk. Staff Srgt Charles B. Shaw, Jr., Ray City, served as a B-17 mechanic in the 8th Army Air Force, Snetterton Heath, England. Howell Shaw served at Sedalia Army Air Field and William C. Webb served in the Medical Corps of the Army Air Force. Lt. Jamie Connell, of Nashville, served as a navigator-bombardier. Saunto Sollami served in the Army Air Corp and came to the area after the war.
Sgt. Moore was assigned to the 854 AAF Bomber Squadron, 491st Bomber Group, flying as a crewman on a B-24 Liberator. Some say he was a bombardier, others say he was a tail gunner. The 491st was one of seven Heavy Bombardment Groups – 488th through 494th – activated in the autumn of 1943. By April of 1944, the 491st was in England, and the group engaged in the long-range strategic bombardment of Germany.
A B-24 Liberator Bomber belonging to the 854 AAF Bomber Squadron, 491st Bombardment Group. Of the 28 B-24s that flew the Misburg Mission, November 26, 1944, 16 were shot down. This plane was one of the losses.
In July 1944 the 491st Bombardment Group supported the Allied breakout at St. Lo and assaulted V-weapon sites and communications lines in France during the summer of 1944. After August, 1944 the 491st concentrated its attacks on strategic objectives in Germany, striking communications centers, oil refineries, storage depots, industrial areas, shipyards, bridges and other targets in such places as Berlin, Hamburg, Kassel, Cologne, Gelsenkirchen, Bielefeld, Hanover, and Magdeburg; on one occasion the 491st attacked the headquarters of the German General Staff at Zossen, Germany.
The Misburg Mission ~ November 26, 1944
Destroying Germany’s petroleum production was a major Allied strategy to shorten the war. One of the vital German petroleum plants was the large Misburg refinery with 1,060 workers, located about 5 miles east of Hanover, Germany. On November 26, 1944, the 491st bomber group participated in the ninth bomber mission against the refinery at Misburg, part of a massive air strike against Germany by the American Army Air Force on that day. Combined with other aerial engagements, the day would mark the second largest air battle of WWII.
WWII aerial reconnaissance photo of bombing of the oil refinery at Misburg, Germany. Image courtesy of San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive.
November 26 was to be a black day for the 491st. Through a series of unfortunate incidents, the bomber group’s defensive integrity was disrupted and the group fell under heavy attack by large numbers of enemy fighters. As fighter cover for the bomber group, 47 American P-51 Mustangs engaged with more than 250 Luftwaffe fighters in the German skies.
The 491st dispatched 31 B-24s on that day; three turned back, 28 reached the target, 16 never returned. According to the 491st Bomber Group website, Mitchell Moore was flying as a Left Waist Gunner on the Misburg raid.
Although more than half of its planes were destroyed, the group fought through the German interceptor planes, and successfully bombed the target. For this action the group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation.
Atlanta Constitution reports bombers lost in November 26, 1944 raid on Misburg oil refinery.
Atlanta Constitution
November 27, 1944U.S. Planes Shoot Down 122 Germans
1,100 Heavy Bombers Blast Misburg Oil; 700 Fighters Along
LONDON, Nov. 26. — At least 122 Nazi fighter planes of approximately 200 which rose to protect Germany’s largest natural oil refinery at Misburg were shot down in aerial combat todayby and American fleet of 700 fighters and 1,100 heavy bombers.
The American fighters reported downing 110 of the Nazi interceptors, while 12 were destroyed by bomber crews. The escort planes also destroyed seven German planes on the ground in strafing attacks.
Thirty-seven American bombers and 13 fighters were reported missing from operations.
But it was the third largest bag of Nazi fighters shot down in combat. Just last Nov. 2, American pilots picked off 134 enemy planes Merseburg oil center – 13 miles west of Leipzig – and Germany sacrificed 117 in the same area on Sept. 11.
A gigantic battle swirled through the skies over Misburg.
Through the dense clouds stained with exploding flak from hundreds of ground guns, American pilots engaged the Germans in temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 degrees below zero.
NINTH ATTACK
Today’s attack was the ninth on the Misburg refinery, which lies 15 miles east of Hannover and has a yearly production of 220,000 tons. It followed up yesterday’s raid by 2,000 American planes on the Leuna works at Merseburg, one of Germany’s largest synthetic oil plants. Only a dozen enemy fighters were encountered on the Merseburg mission
Mitchell’s plane was one of those which did not return from Misburg. The war raged on, and at home in Ray City, friends and families grieved and waited for word of Mitchell Moore.
The Nashville Herald,
January 4, 1945Missing In Action
The friends and relatives of S-Sgt. Mitchell H. Moore regret too know that he has been reported missing in action over Germany since November 26, 1944.
Sgt. Moore was an aerial (torn) receiving his training at (torn) Miss., Loredo, Texas, (torn), later leaving for overseas (torn) peka, Kansas in September (torn).
His wife if the former (torn) red Clements of Ray City (torn) the present time is with her (torn) Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Clements.
On April 11, 1945, The Atlanta Constitution reported that Sergeant Mitchell H. Moore had been classified as killed in action.
The following month, on May 8, 1945 Germany surrendered – It was Victory in Europe day. After the surrender, a memorial service was held for Staff Sergeant Mitchell H. Moore.
The Nashville Herald
July 19, 1945Memorial Service For S. Sgt. M.H. Moore
According to an announcement made this week by the family of the late S. Sgt. Mitchell H. Moore, a Memorial Service will be held in his honor on Sunday afternoon, July 22, at 3:30 o’clock at the Unity Methodist church near Lakeland.
S. Sgt. Moore was killed in action over Germany November 26, 1944. He was well and favorably known in this section and has many friends who regret his untimely death. All friends of the family and others desiring to do so may attend the services.Transcription courtesy of Skeeter Parker
It would be four more years before Moore’s body was returned to the United States. The return of the living and the dead was the post-war mission of the U.S. Merchant marines, ships worked by men like J.B. Mitchell Sirmans aboard the armed merchantman SS Wheaton Victory or Brocy Sirmans on S.S. William G. Lee. Moore’s final voyage was aboard the SS Haiti Victory.
Remains of S Sgt Mitchell Moore returned aboard SS Haiti Victory, 1949
May 8, 1949, four years to the day after Victory in Europe was declared, the U.S. Army announced the bodies of 104 Georgians were being returned aboard the SS Haiti Victory, among them the body of S. Sgt Mitchell Moore.
Atlanta Constitution
May 8, 1949Bodies of 104 Georgians On Way Home From Europe
Remains of 104 Georgians, including 14 Atlantans, who lost their lives during World War II are being returned to the United States from Europe aboud the U. S. Army transport Haiti Victory, the Department of the Army announced.
Armed forces dead originally buried in temporary military cemeteries in France, Holland and Belgium are among those being returned. Next of kin will be notified in advance of the arrival of the remains at the Regional Distribution Center of the American Graves Registration Service.
Funeral services for Mitchell Moore were held at Unity Methodist Church, and the remains were re-interred at Union Church Cemetery (Burnt Church) near Lakeland, GA.
The Nashville Herald
June 16, 1949S-Sgt. Mitchell Moore Returned to States for Burial
Funeral services will be held Sunday at the Unity Methodist Church of Crisp Community for Staff Sergeant Mitchell Moore, who was killed with his entire crew when their plane was shot down over Hanover, Germany, November 26, 1944. Sgt. Moore will be laid to rest at the Burnt Church cemetery.
Services will begin at 4:30 Sunday afternoon with the Rev. J. W. Herndon of Norman Park, and the Rev. Bishop of Lakeland, officiating.
Sgt. Moore is survived by two brothers, W.W. Moore of Nashville, and J.P. Moore of Stockton, and three sisters, Miss Rosa Lee Moore, Mrs. Shelton Davis, and Mrs. G.E. West, all of Stockton.
Transcription courtesy of Skeeter Parker
†††
The Nashville Herald
June 23, 1949Sgt. Mitchell Moore Laid To Rest Sunday
Staff Sergeant Mitchell H. Moore was laid to rest Sunday at the Unity Methodist Church of Crisp Community in Lanier County.
A military burial was given to the air forceman, who was killed over Hanover, Germany in 1944, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Club of Lakeland. The Rev. J.W. Herndon of Norman Park and the Rev. Bishop of Lakeland officiated.
Sgt. Moore is survived by his wife, the former Miss Mildred Clements of Ray City, two brothers, W.W. Moore of Nashville, and J.P. Moore of Stockton, and three sisters, Miss Rosa Lee Moore, Mrs. Shelton Davis, and Mrs. G.E. West, all of Stockton.
Transcription courtesy of Skeeter Parker
Application for WWII headstone for Mitchell H. Moore.
The widow, Mildred C. Moore applied for a monument for her husband; A stark white marble marker to mark the grave of a young man who gave his life in the service of his country.
Related Posts:
Ray City History Blog 