Staff Sgt. Russell Chitwood

From World War II (Chitwood, R.)

WASHINGTON -The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Russell O . Chitwood, 27, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, killed during World War II, was accounted for March 4, 2025. Chitwood's family recently received their full briefing on his identification, therefore, additional details on his identification can be shared.

In the winter of 1943, Chitwood was assigned to the 359th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force, in England. On January 3, while on a bombing mission t o Saint-Nazaire, France, his B-17F aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and then attacked by German fighter planes. Some of the crew bailed out into the Bay of Biscay, France, while the pilot managed to ditch the bomber successfully in the water. Of the ten crew members, three were taken prisoner, one was witnessed to die in the water, and the remaining six were presumed dead. Chitwood's remains were not accounted for after the war.

In 1946 and 1947, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) exhumed graves, which purportedly held the remains of American airmen, from local cemeteries along the coast of the Bay of Biscay. One of those graves had a marker inscribed with "American serviceman Russel Thitwood." The AGRC recovery team transferred the remains to U.S. Military Cemetery Champigneul, France, where they were designated X-330 Champigneul (X-330). On Oct. 19, 1948, the AGRC determined there was insufficient evidence to identity X-330 and recommended the remains be declared unidentifiable. On May 3, 1949, the AGRC interred X - 330 i n what is known today as Epinal AmericanCemetery in France.

In August 2023, Department of Defense and American Battle Monuments Commission officials exhumed X-330 from Epinal American Cemetery and transported them to the DPAA Laboratory for analysis

To identify Chitwood's remains, DPAA scientists conducted an anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial, Y-chromosome, and autosomal DNA analysis.

Chitwood's name is recorded on the Wall of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Graveside service will be 1:00 PM Saturday, 4/11/2026 at Cunningham Cemetery; 1130 Old Bear Road; Royal, AR.  71968.  The Army Honor Guard will provide full military honors.  The Patriot Guard Riders will help escort us from the funeral home to the cemetery and have a flag line.  Everyone is welcome to come pay welcome this Great American Hero home to his final resting place.