J. W. Choate was born on May 15, 1925. He served in the 409th Bomber Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator/Gunner on the B-24 #41-28626 'Thunderbird' during World War II.

On February 5, 1944, the crew took off from Station 104 in Hardwick, England, for a mission to Chateaudun, France. At around 11:45 am, their plane suffered mechanical problems causing it to be uncontrollable, and crashed at a place called Petit Neuf Manor, 2 km northeast of Danzé. The airplane was completely evacuated by the crew members before it crashed into the ground and exploded. Fortunately, all members survived, but all were captured by the Germans. SSgt Choate was taken to Stalag Luft IV in Gross Tychow, Poland.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net