Robert C. Mayfield was born on November 2, 1924, in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Charles Arthur Mayfield and Olive Fax Mayfield. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-17 #44-8224 during World War II.

On January 23, 1945, during a bombing mission over Neuss, Germany, the aircraft was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Heerde, the Netherlands. A direct hit to the right wing caused it to break off, sending the aircraft into an uncontrolled descent. It was last seen entering a split-S maneuver before disappearing into the clouds. Of the ten crew members aboard, nine were killed in action, while the pilot survived and was taken as a prisoner of war.

TSgt Mayfield was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. Robert C. Mayfield's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 1, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com, www.398th.org