De Lafayette Stanley, Jr.

Name:

Stanley, Jr. De Lafayette

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-886546

Unit:

603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1944-11-21

State:

New Jersey

Cemetery:

Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA

Plot:

H

Row:

Grave:

10462

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Stanley De Lafayette Jr. was born on May 25, 1921, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17 #43-38671 nicknamed ''Lehner’s Raiders'' during World War II.

On November 21, 1944, Lehner’s Raiders participated in a bombing mission targeting the synthetic oil plant in Merseburg, Germany. After completing the bombing run, the formation was attacked by German fighter aircraft. Lehner’s Raiders sustained critical damage during this engagement and crashed near Zimmernsupra, close to Erfurt, Germany. Tragically, four crew members were killed in action; the remaining five crew members survived and were captured by German forces, becoming prisoners of war.

2Lt De Lafayette was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA. Stanley D. Lafayette'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: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org