MITCHELL, CARL BERG

Name: Carl Berg Mitchell
Rank/Branch: O4/United States Air Force/Pilot
Unit: 1st Air Commando Squadron
Date of Birth: 02 September 1928
Home City of Record: Mt Sterling KY
Date of Loss: 14 January 1964
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 110853 North 1070030 East
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: B26 B Tail # 44-35566
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: Hickman, Vincent Joseph, missing

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews, Library of Congress.  2022

REMARKS: ACFT CRASH - EXPL-BURN-J

Major Carl Berg Mitchell and Capt Vincent Joseph Hickman were assigned to the
1st Air Commando Squadron, arriving in-country to South Vietnam in November
1963.

Maj Mitchell, a 12 year Air Force Veteran and  pilot, Capt Hickman, navigator and
10 year AirForce veteran,  and a Vietnamese Air Force observer took off in a B-26B
aircraft (tail number 44-35566) out of Bien Hoa Air Base, SVN at 1800 on 14 Jan 1964
on a combat support mission.  After completion of the first napalm drop on the target,
 their aircraft was observed to crash and burn at around 1815.  Their wingman later
confirmed they were shot down by ground fire. (This is according to a squadron mate)

There was no immediate evidence of survivors after the crash.  A medical evacuation
helicopter was immediately dispatched to the scene (Grid coordinates YT193330,
approx 30 km northeast of Bien Hoa.  7 km north of Cau Tri An, Dong Nai Province.) 

The medevac was unable to approach the crash site initially because of heavy hostile
action in the crash area and ground troops could not secure the area until 19 Jan
64.  They searched the crash site and found no evidence of survivors.  From
statements by eyewitnesses to the crash, it was believed that the crew was
killed at the time of the crash.  Status of Maj Mitchell and Capt Hickman was
changed from missing to deceased on 21 Jan 64. 

Interesting note:  Because there was not a formal declaration of war by
Congress, Mitchell and Hickman were listed by the Defense Department as
non-combat deaths.  At the time, Air Force personnel in Vietnam were there in
the role of advisors (explaining the need for a Vietnamese observer on the
aircraft).

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Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:09:07 -0500
From: Sharon Lovins <sharonl6977@gmail.com>

 
MAJ. CARL B. MITCHELL USAF
I received the bracelet for major Carl B.  Mitchell, United States Air Force in 1985 from my VFW that I attended at the time. I still have a bracelet and it can be seen everyday. After 37 years I still hope I can  someday to return his bracelet. I know this is the hope of many. I would like to thank Major Carl Mitchell for his service to our country. I've always said that saying the words thank you would never be enough. It just seems so small for something as large as their service. I only hope that any friends or family he may have, still waiting for him to come home, knows that someone else says a prayer for their comfort and understanding.  God bless each and everyone of our servicemen and women and our service animals. 
Sharon Lovins

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02/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000KY8KEAW

MAJ CARL BERG MITCHELL

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On January 14, 1964, a B-26B Invader (tail number 44-35566) with a crew of two Americans and one South Vietnamese Air Force observer flew a combat support mission against targets north of Cau Tri An, Dong Nai Province (formerly Long Khanh), South Vietnam. After completing its first napalm drop over the target area, the aircraft suddenly crashed into a densely wooded where it subsequently exploded, and burned in the vicinity of (GC) 48P YT 193 330.  Eyewitnesses did not see any parachutes and believed the crewmembers were killed in the crash. Hostile forces controlled the crash area until January 19, 1964, when friendly ground forces searched the site.  During this search, they found no evidence of survivors, remains, or gravesites.  All of the Invader's crew members remain unaccounted-for.

Major Carl Berg Mitchell, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Kentucky, was a member of the 1st Air Commando Squadron. He was the pilot of the incident aircraft when it went down and died in the crash. His remains have not been recovered. Today, Major Mitchell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

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