William Alton Shumate was born on September 1, 1922, in Big Wells, Dimmit County, Texas. He was the son of William Gayford Shumate and Willie Mae McCarley Shumate. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner 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.

SSgt Shumate was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA. William A. Shumate's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 23, in the bottom right wing (section D).

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