Donald Bayard Mahaffey was born on January 18, 1923, in Los Angeles County, California. He served in the 532nd Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Gunner on the B-17 #42-38102 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 24, 1944, when their airplane crashed near Bridbrook, England, shortly after take-off from Ridgewell. Mechanical problems were blamed for the accident costing the lives of all crew members - most of whom were flying their first mission. Sgt Mahaffey is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.