Niles Dorval Loudenslager was born on June 11, 1916, in Michigan. He was the son of Samuel Obadiah Loudenslager and Goldie M. Loudenslager. He was married to Bernadine Ruth Hart Wicks. He served with the 338th Bombardment Squadron, 96th Bombardment Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17F #42-29767, nicknamed "Boot Hill," during World War II.

On May 17, 1943, the "Boot Hill" was shot down over Brittany, France, during a bombing mission against German military installations at Lorient. Piloted by 1Lt Louis Lafayette Haltom, the aircraft was among 20 bombers dispatched by the group that morning, departing England at approximately 8:30 a.m. Before reaching the French coast, the bomber encountered mechanical difficulties when the supercharger on its No. 3 engine failed. Despite the malfunction, Haltom continued the mission. During the bombing run, the aircraft was struck by German anti-aircraft fire, damaging its engines and right horizontal stabilizer. Although the crew managed to complete the bombing run, the damaged Flying Fortress began losing speed and altitude, gradually falling behind the main formation. While attempting to return to England, the isolated bomber came under attack from German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters, which inflicted further damage and wounded several crew members. With two engines severely damaged and the aircraft unable to maintain altitude, Haltom realized that reaching the English Channel was no longer possible and ordered his crew to bail out. The surviving airmen parachuted into the countryside of occupied Brittany before the crippled bomber crashed near Kéramprès, approximately four kilometers southeast of Plonévez-du-Faou in the Finistère department of France, at around 12:30 p.m. Of the eleven crew members aboard, two were killed, German forces captured three, and six successfully evaded capture with assistance from local French civilians and Resistance networks.

During the German fighter attacks against B-17F "Boot Hill" on May 17, 1943, S/Sgt Niles D. Loudenslager was seriously wounded when a .30-caliber bullet struck his leg. Despite his injury, he propped his wounded leg on an ammunition box and continued firing at the attacking fighters. When pilot 1Lt Louis Haltom ordered the crew to bail out, Loudenslager struggled to reach the waist exit because of his injury. He encountered radio operator T/Sgt Glen Wells, and together they attempted to force open the damaged door. After managing to open it partially, Loudenslager used his uninjured leg to push Wells clear of the aircraft. Loudenslager subsequently escaped the crippled bomber and parachuted into occupied France. Later that evening, he reunited with Haltom and several other surviving crew members. Because of his wounded leg, Loudenslager initially traveled on horseback as the group began its escape through the French countryside. When the survivors separated into smaller groups, he remained with Haltom while the others continued along a different route. By mid-July, the six surviving evaders had reunited and continued their journey with assistance from local French civilians and Resistance networks, including Vladimir Bouryschkine, who helped Allied airmen evade German capture. Despite his injury, Loudenslager eventually escaped through occupied France and crossed the Pyrenees into Spain before reaching Allied-controlled territory. SSgt Loudenslager died on February 22, 1982, and is now buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bath, Clinton County, Michigan, USA.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.rumboogiecrew.com, francecrashes39-45.net,rcmcollection.com