John Stevens was born on May 27, 1918 and was from Oneonta, New York. He was the Left Waist Gunner on the B-24J “Lady Patricia” on November 6, 1944 when it crashed after a bombing mission
On November 6, 1944, B-24 “Lady Patricia” (42-51642) of the 745th Bomber Squadron, 456th Bomber Group Steed’s Flying Colts”, 15th Air Force flying from Stornara Air Base in Italy was on a mission to bomb enemy facilities in Munich, Germany. After the mission, the aircraft experienced engine trouble and the Pilot (2LT Doyle Smith) unsuccessfully looked for a safe landing site; after two engines failed and were aflame, he gave the order to abandon sip. The crew bailed out and the plane crashed on a mountainside near Malix , Switzerland. The crew survived and was interned in Switzerland until the end of the war. A memorial remembers “Lady Patricia” under the Dreibündenstein peak near Malix, Switzerland. (Reference Missing Aircraft Report {MACR} 9798).
The Crew of “Lady Patricia included:
Pilot: Doyle R. Smith, 2nd Lt Copilot: Bartolomeo Castelli, 1st Lt Navigator: Harlan D. Hatfield, F/O Bombardier: Charles C. Minor, 2nd Lt Nose Gunner: Robert E. Manning, Sgt Engineer: Fred T. Hoque, Sgt Ball Turret: Charles E. Ellsworth, Sgt Right Waist: Donald E. Piel, Sgt Left Waist: John O. Stevens, Sgt Tail Gunner: Stanley B. Niedzialek, Sgt Photographer: Edmond Vaubourg, Sgt

FROM FIND A GRAVE: The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY November 23, 2012 John O. Stevens GOODYEAR LAKE — John O. Stevens, 94, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, Oneonta. He was born May 27, 1918, in Oneonta, the son of Charles Franklin and Marion (Offord) Stevens. John graduated from Oneonta High School, Class of 1935, and started working at the family business, Stevens Hardware Store in Oneonta. He then joined the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He became a POW when his plane was shot down in Switzerland. Returning from service, he continued working at the Stevens Hardware Store, where eventually became the proud owner, retiring two years ago. John was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. He was recognized by the Ruffled Grouse Society, Trout Unlimited and the Otsego County Conservation Alliance, for the support and stewardship in his contributions to the outdoor sports. He also enjoyed gardening and was proud of the outdoor space he created around his Goodyear Lake home.