MAJ. RONALD R. MILLS, U.S. AIR FORCE, RETIRED

BANGOR – Maj. Ronald R. Mills, U.S. Air Force, retired, 88, passed away peacefully April 27, 2010, at his home with loving family by his side. Ron was born June 3, 1921, in Deposit, N.Y., to Charles and Dora Mills. After high school in Guilford, N.Y., Ron worked in farming and as a pipe worker until 1942 when he enlisted in the Army and applied for flight school. He graduated as a fighter pilot and was assigned to southern France and northern Italy. As a 23-year-old second lieutenant squadron commander, of the 347th Fighter Squadron, “Screaming Red Ass Squadron,” he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Sept. 15, 1944. The incident report notes that, “Lt. Mills flew in a fighter-bomber attack upon an enemy munitions factory near Limestrie, Italy. Upon the commencement of the bomb run, shell fragments from intense anti-aircraft fire heavily damaged his aircraft. Courageously maintaining his crippled plane on course, Lt. Mills dived to minimum altitude and released his bombs with precision accuracy upon a large building filled with ammunition, setting off a tremendous explosion. Although his aircraft was further damaged by enemy ground fire drawing away from the target, Lt. Mills rejoined his flight and piloted his shattered P-47 safely back to base. On more than 75 combat missions, his outstanding proficiency and steadfast devotion to duty have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.” Later, 1st Lt. Mills was recognized for leading a P-47 formation which destroyed 19 rail cars and three locomotives in the Novara, Italy, rail yards, 30 miles west of Milan, as well as damaging 21 locomotives and seven cars. During his Air Force career, Ronald received more than 15 awards and decorations, including the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters. Ronald was a very modest and unassuming person and never discussed his military awards and achievements. The above heroic deeds were discovered by his family only recently while reviewing his military records after his death. To his family and friends, Ron was known as Father, Gimp, Gramps, Pops and Major. Ron’s heroic status to his family was earned for reasons altogether different, though no less dramatic or impactful than the heroic exploits of his military career. In 1958 and 1959, Maj. Mills was the lead test pilot of the new, all-weather, high tech “Narrow Gauge” lighting system at Dow Air Force Base. For this important task, which involved flying and landing in extremely dangerous nighttime weather conditions, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. After joining the Air Corps, Ronald became a gentleman farmer, acquiring and managing hundreds of acres of land and three dairy farms in upstate New York. He built and stocked ponds on the property that always promised good fishing. While on military leave, he would fly his plane from Texas to New York to visit the residents who included not only loved ones, but creatures great and small, including Saint Bernards and a miniature pony named, Kappy, who knew how to open the front door, enter the farmhouse and eat cookies from the kitchen cookie jar. Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1962, Ron returned to his farm in upstate New York and became a full-time farmer. His son, Robert, joined him in 1963 and they worked there until 1965 when Ron took up his old occupation as sprinkler fitter. Ronald moved to Maine and joined Automatic Sprinkler Co. and was responsible for installing, inspecting and maintaining the sprinkler systems in many of the commercial buildings in central and northern Maine. Ronald loved the agrarian lifestyle. A fixture on outer Essex Street until the end, he was always quick to lend a hand, loan a tool, and give freely of his time to those who needed a little help. He enjoyed a friendly competition growing giant Walla Walla onions with his friend, Carroll Oakes, and he took the trip of a lifetime to salmon fish in Alaska with his wife, Hancel, and their friends, Ernest and Anita Abbott. Ronald worked hard well into his 80s, cutting wood, fixing equipment, tending the land and tinkering in the barn. Animals always had a special affinity for Ronald, drawn to his gentle, steadfast nature. Lone winter cats could always find shelter in his barn, later in his home, and dogs were always welcomed, though they had to share the property with a large porcupine that lived with permission in the far corner the apple orchard. Generations of birds have come to Ron’s well-stocked feeders from the giant pileated woodpecker down to the smallest house finch; his forests are still full of animals and birds. Ron’s hobbies and enjoyment of leisure time included fishing with Hancel at their camp on Sysladobsis Lake, tending his large garden, bee hives, blueberry crop and orchard, helping his children and grandchildren with their home remodeling and maintenance, and spending time at Hermon Skeet Club. He liked to join his neighbor, Jerry, down in the woods with his chain saw. It was always a pleasure for Ron to visit Gail and Michael at Everlasting Farms to check out the seedlings and provide cardboard flats recycled from empty boxes at the Skeet Club. Ronald was as industrious, frugal and as generous as they come. Ron was blessed with good neighbors, John and Leona, Scott and Kristi, and others too numerous to mention. Ronald was predeceased by his beloved wife, Hancel. He is survived by his three children and their families, Hon. Melvin Mills and his wife, Zelda, of Austin, Texas, and their daughter, Patricia, of Dallas; Pat Stevens and her husband, Winfred and their three daughters, Kassie Zeigler and her husband, Brett and their daughter, Nora Rose, Amy Brook and her husband, Chris and their two sons, Benjamin and Andrew, and Sara Stevens; and Robert and his son, Ronald R. Mills II, all of Bangor. Ronald was predeceased by all eight of his siblings. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 6-8 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where a funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Monday, May 3. After the service, friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor. Those who wish to remember Ron in a special way may make a gift in his memory to The Ark Animal Shelter, 60 Barber Lane, P.O. Box 276, Cherryfield, ME 04266. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.