Born 14 Aug 1918 in Fresno, California to Floyd and Maybelle West. Joined the Canadian Air Force on 27 Aug 1941 and became a pilot, accumulating 560 hours of flying time. Transferred to the USAAF on 7 Sept 43 but remained assigned to the Royal Air Force's 57th Squadron. He was killed, piloting a Lancaster bomber, serial number W4822, on a bombing run to Dusseldorf when it was shot down over Germany. Although he may have been able to bail out, he remained at the controls of his burning aircraft to give the crew the chance to get out, four of whom survived.