Paul Allan Mansell was born on June 8, 1918, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to Irene H. Hamilton, age 21, and David Alexander Mansell, age 25. Prior to moving to Rye, the family lived in the Peekskill / Cold Spring area. In Rye, Paul lived with his father David, an automobile inspector and his mother Mildred at 4 Ridgeland Manor. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. With three years of college, on November 15, 1940 he enlisted in the Air Corps having motor vehicle and mechanical skills. Paul served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
Paul A. Mansell was a First Lieutenant, 8th Airforce assigned as a meteorologist to The Air Transport Command. The Air Transport Command ATC mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport.  Flying primarily Douglas C-47 airplanes ATC also operated a worldwide air transportation system for military personnel.
 The Douglas C-47 Skytrain is a military transport aircraft that was developed and used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line service with various military operators through the 1950s.
The Air Transport Command ATC in Europe initially flew transport operations from the United Kingdom to Spain and Portugal, later on also to French Morocco. Clandestine transport operations were also made into Occupied Europe and to Scandinavia in 1943.  Routes were established into France in 1944 and throughout Occupied Germany, Italy and to the Balkans and Greece in 1945.
 First Lieut. Paul A. Mansell, was among the sixteen victims of an Army transport plane crash in France. The plane was flying from England to Paris at the time of the accident.
Lieut. Mansell died on March 3 from his injuries, he was twenty-six years old and had been in the service since the Fall of 1940.
Overseas nearly three years, Lieut. Mansell was a meteorologist in which he had achieved marked perfection. He was praised by military authorities for clearing a large number of aircraft safely. He was stationed in England most of the time and at the time of the accident was serving with the Air Transport Command.
First Lieutenant Paul A. Mansell plane went down on 3/3/1945 near Paris France while on a mission with The Air Transport Command.
The body of First Lieut Paul A Mansell only son of Mr and Mrs David Mansell of 4 Ridgeland Manor, Rye who died at injuries in a plane crash near Paris on March 3, 1945 was returned to Rye in May of 1949. He was buried with full military honors in Greenwood Union Cemetery Rye, NY.
Paul A. Mansell Commissioned, European Theater of Operations
Paul A. Mansell was recently commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army at headquarters, European Theater of Operations. The son of Mr. and Mrs. David Mansell, 4 Ridgeland Manor, he was commissioned in the Air Corp. He attended Columbia University three years. There he studied meteorology and pre-law courses and before he attended Officer Candidate School was a meteorologist in the Army with the rank of technical sergeant. He has been in the Army three years and in the British Isles a year. His brother, George E. Mansell, is a chief petty officer in the United States Coast Guard.
Friday, August 27, 1943 T H E RYE CHRONICLE PAGE ELEVEN
Lt, Paul Mansell Killed In Plane Crash In France
First Lieut. Paul A. Mansell, son of Mr. and Mrs. David A. Mansell, 4 Ridgeland Manor, was among the sixteen victims of an Army transport plane crash in France. The plane was flying from England to Paris at the time of the accident. Lieut. Mansell died on March 3 from his injuries, his parents were informed in a telegram received Wednesday night from the War Department. He was twenty-six years old and had been in the service since the Fall of 1940. Overseas nearly three years, Lieut. Mansell was a meteorologist in which he had achieved marked perfection. Recently he was praised by military authorities for clearing a large number of aircraft safely. He was stationed in England most of the time and at the time of the accident was serving with the Air Transport Command.
Lieut. Mansell was a graduate of Peekskill Military Academy and attended Columbia University for three years. Prior to his induction he was employed by the Westchester County Park Commission.
RYE, NEW YORK FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1945
|