Russell Irving Payne was born on April 18, 1922, in Suitland, Prince George's County, Maryland. He was the son of James Lloyd Payne and Etta Marie Grierson Payne. He used to go to Suitland Elementary School and Marlboro Elementary School and studied at Marlboro High School. He enlisted on August 11, 1943, in Baltimore, Maryland. He served in the 20th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bomber Group, as a Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 #42-107118 nicknamed 'Snafuperman' during World War II.

On August 29, 1944, the 15th Air Force dispatched the 2nd Bomb Group toward the Moravská Ostrava industrial and fuel complex (present-day Ostrava, Czech Republic) on what the Group designated Mission 263. Over the White Carpathian Mountains near the Czech–Slovak border, a large force of German fighters struck the rear formation, destroying the entire 20th Bomb Squadron in a fierce and rapid engagement now remembered as the Battle over the White Carpathians, which resulted in 41 American airmen killed in action, with 28 initially buried in a mass grave at Slavicín and others taken prisoner. Among the aircraft lost was “Snafuperman” (42-107118), a B-17G that came under intense fighter attack. Its No. 1 engine caught fire, the No. 2 supercharger failed, and the No. 3 engine was knocked out, leaving the bomber fatally crippled. It ultimately crashed between Metylovice and Frýdek-Místek in what is now the Czech Republic, resulting in two fatalities and eight crew members taken prisoner. It was his 30th mission.

Sgt Payne was Killed in Action and was buried on September 30, 1944, in Palkovice, Czechoslovakia. His body was exhumed on October 23, 1946, and transferred to the Lorraine American Cemetery at St. Avold, France. A few years later, he was exhumed again and transferred to the United States, where he was laid to rest on January 14, 1950, at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Maryland.

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, www.findagrave.com