Arthur Paul Schmidt was born on July 23, 1924, in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa. He was the son of Fred Ellrick Schmidt and Flora Elizabeth Nieland Schmidt. He enlisted in the service on January 20, 1944. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 #42-102565 nicknamed ''The Ugly Duckling'' during World War II.

On November 26, 1944, the aircraft was lost during a bombing mission over Misburg, Germany. While returning to base, the aircraft sustained severe damage from enemy anti-aircraft fire near Zwolle, Netherlands. The impact caused a runaway propeller, forcing the crew to bail out over the IJsselmeer (then known as the Zuiderzee). Tragically, all nine crew members perished, likely due to hypothermia from the frigid waters.

SSgt Schmidt is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. Arthur P. Schmidt's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 19, in the bottom left wing (section C).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.zzairwar.nl, www.398th.org