Stephen Anthony Toth was born on August 28, 1921 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of John and Helen Toth. He attended elementary school there, and graduated in 1938 from Toledo Macomber High School with a certificate in auto mechanics. He worked for an automotive plating company for a few years. He was drafted, and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on July 29,1942. He received his basic training and then was sent to technical school. He attended radio operator training and then aerial gunner training at Harlingen AAFB, Texas. He graduated in April 1943.

He was assigned to the 561st Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group, presently training at Wendover Field, Utah, and soon to deploy to England. Arrived in England in February, 1943, the 561st Bomb Squadron crews received additional B-17 training and was soon listed as combat ready. Toth's first mission was on August 13, 1943, a raid to Bonn, Germany. The aircraft aborted the mission due to mechanical failure in Engine #1. In the next few days, two more missions were flown by the crew.

On August 19, 1943, the unit was tasked for their 4th mission, a strike on Woensdrecht Airfield, but a mistake by the group's lead navigator brought them in 21 miles off-course. Diverting to a secondary target at Gilze-Rijon because of weather, the squadron began its bomb run. The aircraft Toth was flying in received flak hits in #4 engine, and began losing power and altitude. Dropping out of formation, the pilot executed a wide left turn and managed to regain his place in the formation after the squadron turned off target. This pace could not be maintained and intensive fighter attacks brought more damage.

Rapidly losing altitude over the Dutch coast, the aircraft fire was spreading. The pilot called "Bail Out" but only the navigator and bombardier were able to respond. The aircraft was last seen under fighter attack, burning fiercely, and losing altitude. The two crew members who bailed out were captured by the Germans, interrogated, and sent to Stalag Luft III until they were liberated in May, 1945. The other 8 crewman all perished in the crash and fire.

They were buried in a military cemetery at Haamstede and later returned to the families for private burial. SSgt Toth is buried in Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, airforce.togetherweserved.com