Myron Hood Donald was born on July 6, 1921, in Chama, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. He was the son of John A. Donald and Mabel Hood Donald. He served in the 702nd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24 #42-51287 during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24 Liberator #42-51287 was lost during the disastrous Kassel mission over Germany. The aircraft departed RAF Tibenham, England, as part of a formation assigned to bomb the Henschel industrial and armored vehicle works at Kassel. During the approach to the target, navigational problems caused the 445th Bomb Group to drift away from the main bomber stream and lose the protection of its long-range fighter escort. After completing the bombing run and turning for home, the isolated formation was intercepted by large numbers of German fighters, primarily Fw 190s and Bf 109s, over central Germany, particularly in the Werra Valley region. The fighters carried out repeated, close-range attacks that devastated the unescorted bombers. B-24 #42-51287 was among the Liberators shot down during this intense aerial battle and crashed in Germany.

1Lt Donald was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Département de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.rafb24.com, weremember.abmc.gov