Forrest Craig Havens was born on August 12, 1917, in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. He was the son of Forrest Fowler Havens and Lola Day Craig Crews. He was married to Nellie Inez Parker Havens.

Craig served in the 68th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-24 #41-29418 'Pappy's Chillun' during World War II. On April 21, 1944, their aircraft was on its way on a bombing mission to the German town of Zwickau, when during assembly north of Norwich, the aircraft encountered bad icing conditions. As it was climbing about 155 to 160 mph through overcast skies, it suddenly shuddered and bore sharply to the right and then back before canting over into a spin, with its tail and right-wing finally twisting off. The pilot and his co-pilot were tossed into the cockpit roof and then thrown out of the plane when it disintegrated still in flight. Both men were injured but, none of the other eight crew members survived.

2Lt Havens suffered severe injuries when he landed in a tree, fractured his left ankle, and his spine. He spent some time at the 231st Hospital. He did not return to the 44th Bomb Group.

He died on April 27, 1997, at the age of 79 and is now buried in the Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, geograph.co.uk, dainthecbi.com