Arthur Edward Potvin was born on December 14, 1923, and was from Virginia. He was the son of Alphonse Potvin and Bertha R. Younger Potvin. He served as the Tail Gunner aboard the B-24D Liberator (42-40105) “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” On November 11, 1943, the aircraft, piloted by 1st Lt. McCollum, took part in a 32-plane mission targeting a ball-bearing factory in Annecy, France. The operation was flown by the 344th Bomb Squadron “Pyramiders” of the 98th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, from Enfidaville Airfield in Tunisia.

During the return flight, the aircraft experienced mechanical failure that caused it to fall out of formation, making it vulnerable to enemy fighters. It was subsequently attacked and shot down by seven enemy fighters from Jagdgruppe (JG) 77. The plane was heavily damaged, resulting in several deaths on board, though some crew members were able to parachute to safety. It crashed on Monte Rucustun (Località Rucustun) near Andonno, Italy. Four crewmen were killed in action; one was wounded and taken prisoner; and five evaded capture for about three weeks with assistance from Aldo Quaranta’s Partisan Brigades before returning to duty via Switzerland. According to Missing Aircraft Report (MACR) 1197, Arthur Potvin was among those killed in the crash.