From Russ Pickett FindaGrave: Donald served as a Second Lieutenant & Co-Pilot on B-17G #42-102862, 817th Bomber Squadron, 483rd Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.



He resided in Boyd County, Nebraska prior to the war.



He enlisted in the Army on September 22, 1942 in Washington, D.C. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as an Office Clerk and also as Single, without dependents.



B-17G #42-102862 took off from Sterparone, Italy on a bombing mission over Memmingen, Germany. Prior to "bombs away" they, along with 6 other B-17's, were attacked by an "overwhelming" number of German fighter aircraft.



B-17G #42-102862, along with other B-17's, were shot down and crashed near Memmingen during the war.