US Air Corps 2nd Lt. Archibald Solomon Mills Jr. was born in Pensacola, Florida on July 18, 1922, the son of Archibald Sr. (1897-1981) and Irma Dewberry (1901-1967). Archie Jr. was the grandson of Lewis Mills and Caroline Solomon Dennis. His grandfather was a railroad engineer by trade and was forced to jump from his locomotive just prior to a collision with another train. His resulting head injury forced him into an early medical retirement. As for his father Archie Sr., he began his adult life as a rosin and turpentine agent until just before America entered WWI. He enlisted in the Georgia National Guard in 1915 and was sent to Mexico to chase the great bandit Pancho Villa. After America entered WWI, he was reactivated and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of artillery in June 1918. He would enter combat with the 129th Field Artillery of the 81st Infantry Division. He was eventually transfer to the 3rd Infantry Division where he was placed under the command of the future American President Captain Harry S. Truman. After the war, he returned to the Consolidated Naval Stores Company but this time in Pensacola, Florida.
Here, he met and married Miss Irma Dewberry, daughter of Dr. William C. Dewberry and a graduate of Pensacola High School’s Class of 1919. In March 1936, Archie Sr. organized Battery “C” of the 265th Coast Artillery with the Florida National Guard and eventually became its executive commander. With Europe now at war his battalion was finally inducted into Federal service in January 1941.
In the meantime, his son’s military career took a different direction than his father’s. In 1940, Archie Jr. graduated from Pensacola High School, the same year his father returned to active duty with the US Army. Following his graduation, he would enter the military academy known as the “Citadel” in Charleston, SC. However, America’s need for military leadership was so great that Archie’s entire class of 1944 was inducted prematurely into the U.S. armed forces one year early. He volunteered for the USAAC flight program and became a bomber pilot. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 530th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, of the 5th Air Force. Ironically, he and his father found themselves in the same theater of the war at about the same time. By September 1, 1943, Lt. Mills Jr. had reported to duty at Fenton Field at Tipperary Station in the Northern Territory of Australia. Immediately upon arrival at the airfield Archie was assigned as co-pilot of the B-24 bomber nicknamed “Nothing Sacred.” Then came a mission against the Japanese airfield located in the Langgoer Islands. This was a small island chain located just south of New Guinea where his father was now stationed. American intelligence had discovered an enemy airfield located strategically within striking distance of the Allied presence on New Guinea thus the need for hits destruction.
On September 21, 1943, three flights, with three heavy bombers in each, took off with Archie in the first flight. Upon reaching the enemy airfield they found their target completely covered with heavy clouds thus forcing them to circle and make a second run. Alerted to their presence the enemy now had time to scramble their fighters into the air to meet the incoming American threat. The plane’s pilot, Lt. Hugh B. Parris brought the “Nothing Sacred” in for the second time and was immediately attacked by two dozen enemy "Zero" and "Nick" fighters. Within minutes four of the nine Liberators were hit and in trouble. The flight leader, Major Jack Bratton shot down two Japanese aircraft in quick succession. Another bomber in Archie’s flight called “Little Joe” was hit and with one engine on fire was forced to crash land, He and his crew survived but were eventually captured by the enemy. Some of the bombers were able to drop their bombs on the target while others jettisoned theirs over the jungle and began nursing their damaged aircraft on the long trip back home.
Two of these was the bombers “She Asta” and the “Queer Deer.” Both made the decision to forego landing at Fenton Field and brought their aircraft down at the much closer Darwin airfield. As for “Nothing Sacred” they dropped their bombs over the target then fought their way out of the circle of enemy fighters and headed for home as fast as they could. But for whatever reason Lt. Parris and Archie decided to risk everything and try to land at Fenton Field. Unfortunately, it was night when they arrived and immediately began to lose altitude just before crashing into Sugar Loaf hill just three miles short of the airfield. Archie and the entire crew of ten were killed with only one survivor, SSgt. Frank McGarry, a combat photographer. He jumped from the stricken craft just seconds before impact and although severely injured he survived. However, his legs were so badly fractured from the impact both had to be amputated.
Since the crash occurred over friendly territory their bodies were quickly recovered and buried in a local military cemetery until after the war. They were returned home to their loved ones per his parent's request. Archie was flown to Pensacola on March 20, 1948, and now lays at rest in Barrancas National Cemetery next to his parents.
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