Victor Lewis Byrd was born on April 12, 1921. He was the son of Rufus Franklin Byrd Sr. and Mallie Lee Lewis Byrd. He was the husband of Mary Buckley Byrd. Victor served in the 565th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant during World War II. He also served as a Gunner of the B-24D-165-CO #4272866 or also known as ''Jackass Male''.

On April 1, 1944, his plane was assigned to bomb Ludwigshafen, Germany, but had a secondary mission to photograph the German V1 missile site at Siracourt, France. During this mission, the aircraft was struck by German anti-aircraft fire and crashed. Of the 11 crew members, only three survived, including Byrd. After the crash, Byrd was rescued by a member of the French Resistance, who hid him until British forces liberated the area in September 1944. SSgt Byrd died on September 3, 1974, and is now buried in the Pineville-Leaf River Cemetery, Smith County, Mississippi, USA.