Raymond Henry Rajala was born on November 20, 1918, in New Hampshire. He was the husband of Catherine Leona Duchesneau Rajala. He served in the 812th Bomb Squadron, 482nd Bomb Group, Pursuit, as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-17G #42-3486 nicknamed ''Invictus'' during World War II.

On January 11, 1944, B-17F “Invictus” departed Thurleigh, England, on a Pathfinder mission leading a bombing formation to Halberstadt, Germany. After releasing its bombs and heading back toward England, the aircraft came under repeated attacks from German fighter aircraft and possibly anti-aircraft rockets, which severely damaged the tail section and killed or incapacitated the tail gunner. Despite the damage, the bomber continued west toward the Dutch coast. Near the Netherlands, it was attacked again by a large formation of German fighters, including Fw 190s and Me 109s. During this final attack, the aircraft was struck heavily, and two engines caught fire. The aircraft lost control, stalled, and entered a steep dive. Four crew members managed to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the IJsselmeer near Harderwijk, Netherlands, at approximately 1:30 PM. One survivor landed on land but was injured and captured, two others parachuted into the lake and were rescued and taken prisoner, while one drowned. The remaining crew members were killed in the crash.

SSgt Rajala successfully bailed out but was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft IV in Gross-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia. He died on April 9, 1976, and is now buried in the Pinecrest Cemetery, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://aviation-safety.net