John Evans Boyett Jr. was born on January 19, 1923, in Goodwell, Texas County, Oklahoma. He was the son of John E. and Eunice Love Boyett. He was married to Mary Ellen Johnson Boyett. He graduated from Hollis High School in 1941 and was drafted into the Army in 1942. After completing his training, he was deployed from Florida to the Italian theater of war. He served in the 775th Bomb Squadron, 463rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 #42-31685 nicknamed 'Pete's Playhouse' during World War II.

On May 10, 1944, the “Pete’s Playhouse” took part in a bombing mission against the important German industrial target at Wiener Neustadt, Austria. As part of the 15th Air Force operating from Italy, the aircraft and its crew flew deep into heavily defended enemy territory, where intense anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition were common. During the mission, the bomber was hit by German flak, severely damaging the aircraft. Unable to maintain formation or safely return to base, the crew was forced to abandon the aircraft or attempt to control it as it descended. The B-17 ultimately crashed near Vöstenhof, southwest of Wiener Neustadt. Of the ten-man crew, five were killed in action, while five managed to survive and were captured, becoming prisoners of war.

TSgt Boyett survived the incident and was captured, becoming a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 4 in Gross Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia. After the war, he returned to Hollis before relocating to Big Spring in 1947 to work for the Texas and Pacific Railway. In 1951, he moved to Amarillo, where he worked at Pantex for three years before beginning a long career with Texaco Refinery, retiring as a foreman in 1978. He died on July 23, 2012, and is now buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, americanarchive.iwm.org.uk