John Frederick Lutz was born on August 18, 1918, in Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri. He was the son of Otto J. Lutz and Stella Mae Price Lutz. After graduating from Fulton High School, he attended Westminster College for one year. He transferred to Brawley Junior College at Brawley, California, graduating the following year.

John enlisted in the RAF as a member of the 71st Eagle Squadron in September 1941 at the age of 23. He took part in many air battles with the Eagle Squadron over Europe and continued with the U.S. 8th Air Force after the Eagle Squadron's transfer in September 1942. On May 4, 1943, after engaging several Nazi fighters during a bomber escort mission to Holland, he was forced to bail out of his crippled aircraft over the English Channel. His aircraft began smoking and losing speed as he approached the Dutch coast. At 2,500’, it was seen to roll over on its back and go straight into the Channel, 55 miles east of Clacton. 1Lt Lutz was seen to bail out of the aircraft, but his wingman was unable to see if his chute opened. He was seen floating motionless on the surface. An ASR Walrus was dispatched but was unable to locate him.

1Lt Lutz was declared "Missing in Action". His name is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing, Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, 4thfightergroupassociation.org