Nelson Russell Beyer was born on February 24, 1920, in Red Hill, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John Abner Beyer and Katie M. Boyer Beyer. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner of B-17 #43-37889 nicknamed ''Black Widow'' during World War II.

On January 20, 1945, during a bombing mission over Mannheim, Germany, the B-17 Black Widow was damaged by flak, disabling one engine before the bomb ran and setting another on fire afterward. Forced to abandon the aircraft over Mechtersheim, Germany, seven crew members parachuted safely and were captured as POWs, while two were Killed in Action.

Sgt Beyer successfully bailed out, but the parachute only partially deployed and he died on impact in a farmer's field and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France. He also has a cenotaph in the Pennsburg United Church of Christ Cemetery, Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. Nelson R. Beyer's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 21, in the bottom left wing (section C).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.findagrave.com, www.398th.org