Arnold Grover Shumate was born on January 14, 1923, in Virginia. He was the son of Grover Marshall Shumate and Effie Christian Shumate. He served in the 729th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner of the B-17G "BTO in the ETO" (#42-38202) during World War II.
On June 21, 1944, "BTO in the ETO" was on a mission to bomb targets in Nazi Germany. Following the successful bombing run, the aircraft encountered damage severe enough to force the crew to abandon the plane. The crew members parachuted out, landing in German-occupied Poland. Three of them—TSgt White, SSgt Cabaniss, and SSgt Shumate were captured by German forces and became prisoners of war. The remaining crew members, however, avoided capture and joined up with the Polish guerrilla unit "34th PP AK Zenon," an Armia Krajowa (AK) resistance group, where they continued to fight against German forces.
SSgt Shumate was captured by German forces and became POW. He was taken to Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania. Arnold survived the war and died on June 29, 1999. He is now buried in the Sherwood Burial Park, Salem, Salem City, Virginia, USA.
Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com/