Donald James DeCleene was born on February 7, 1921, in Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois. He enlisted in the service on December 7, 1942. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-17 #43-38944 during World War II.

On January 2, 1945, while being ferried from the American air depot at Burtonwood to RAF Nuthampstead in Hertfordshire, the aircraft crashed into Birchenough Hill near Wildboarclough, Cheshire, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members. The aircraft broke apart and burned on impact. The exact cause of the crash is unknown, though potential factors include mechanical failure, navigation error, or altitude misjudgment at night.

1Lt DeCleene is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England. Donald J. DeCleene's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 25, in the top right wing (section B).

Source of information: aircrashsites.co.uk, www.398th.org