Dayton B. Mitstifer was born on December 17, 1921, in Liberty, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Clarence M. Mitstifer and Leda B. Brion Mitstifer. He served in the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Flight Officer and Co-Pilot on the B26 #41-34947 RU*K "Lady Luck" during World War II.
On February 10, 1944, they took off from Station 164 in Great Dunmow, England on a mission to bomb V1 launch site at A-27, France. The plane was directly hit by a heavy flak located in the Bernaville area, north of the Crécy-en-Ponthieu forest in France. The flak shell hit the fuel tank of the starboard wing detaching the wing at the nacelle. From 8,000 feet the plane plunged towards the ground and burned. 5 crew members were Killed in Action (including F/O Mitstifer) and 1 became POW.
F/O Mitstifer is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He also has a cenotaph located in Friedens Lutheran Church Cemetery, Buttonwood, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
B26 41-34947 "Lady Luck" crew:
1Lt Robert Bradford Spencer - Pilot (POW)
F/O Dayton B. Mitstifer - Co-Pilot
1Lt Arch A. Pine, Jr. - Bombardier
T/Sgt Richard R. Faith - Radio Operator
S/Sgt Gerard G. Bergeron - Mechanic
S/Sgt John L. Dorton - Rear Gunner
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net, www.americanairmuseum.com