James Mell

Major 
Army Air Corps

James R. Mell was born in South Carolina in October of 1923. Though he had already received his pilot's license, he had to go back to flight school when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Mr. Mell was subsequently shipped out to Europe where he spent the remainder of the war. He discusses having his gun stolen in Casablanca, fishing with the sailors in Corsica, and keeping his cool during a near-fatal mission over the Poe River in Italy.