Donald Roy Houser was born on February 1, 1926, in Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He served in the 360th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-17F #42-5788 nicknamed 'Pluto's Avenger' and also known as 'A.O.G. Not in Stock,' during World War II.

On February 22, 1944, during Mission #111 to Aschersleben, Germany, B-17F #42-5788 Pluto's Avenger was attacked by German fighters. The aircraft remained in a controlled shallow dive with its #4 engine smoking before crashing near Duffel, 15 km southwest of Antwerp, Belgium. Tragically, four crew members died and six others became prisoners of war, while Major George Weinbrenner evaded capture and returned to the UK in September 1944.

Sgt Houser was reported missing and officially declared dead on February 22, 1944. His name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium.

Source of information: http://www.303rdbg.com/