George Rolla Austin was born on November 24, 1920, in St Louis, Missouri. He was the son of Charles H. Austin and Edna Merle Blood Austin. He served in the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier/ Navigator of B-24 #42-110022 nicknamed ''Patches'' during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, the “Patches” was part of the 445th Bombardment Group on a heavy daylight bombing mission over Germany. During this Kassel mission, the bomber formation became isolated from the main bomber stream and lost its fighter escort. German fighter aircraft engaged the isolated group in a fierce aerial battle over central Germany. During the engagement, Patches was shot down by German fighters and crashed near Kassel, resulting in the loss of the aircraft and crew.

2Lt Austin survived the bailout, but later that day, he and four other airmen were beaten and then shot in the head. Their identification papers, dog tags, and other personal items were taken, and they were buried in an unmarked grave. He has a memorial in the Grand Prairie Cemetery, Cairo, Randolph County, Missouri, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.445bg.org, www.americanairmuseum.com