Bailey Jackson Lovin Jr. was born on January 31, 1921, in Allen, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Bailey Jackson Lovin Sr. and Edith Fitzhugh Lovin. He was married to Elizabeth Jane McDole Sperling. He enlisted in the service on December 18, 1941. He served with the 338th Bombardment Squadron, 96th Bombardment Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Flight Navigator 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.

1Lt Lovin successfully bailed out between Carhaix and Spézet in Brittany, France, but was captured by German forces near Spézet the same day. He was subsequently interned at Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Poland, before being forced to march to Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany. He remained a prisoner of war until April 29, 1945, when American troops liberated the camp. He died on September 26, 1974, and is now buried in the Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

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