Donald C. King was born on August 3, 1915. He was the Navigator on the heavy bomber crew of 1/Lt David L. Ozbolt, in the 839th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group at Lavenham, England. On July 20, 1944, his crew was flying B-24H 42-51197 on a practice bombing mission at Ducks Hall bombing range, just west of Lavenham. After the practice bomb run, the aircraft collided with another 487th Bomb Group aircraft, B-17G 43-37840. The B-24 spun in immediately and crashed near Cavendish, England. Donald C. King and four of his crewmates were killed in the crash. 1LT King is now buried in the Hopewell United Methodist Church Cemetery, Frostburg, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, USA.
B-24H 42-51197 crew:
• Ozbolt, David L – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Carter, Delmar J – 2/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• King, Donald C – 1/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Lassandro, James L – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Everett, Lloyd E – S/Sgt – Engineer – Safe (killed in action on August 25, 1944)
• Savoy, John B – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – Safe
• Baker, Robert S – S/Sgt – Gunner – KIA
• Sherman, William L – S/Sgt – Gunner – KIA
• Milliken, William – Sgt – Passenger – KIA
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com