World War II Honoree

Donald Vernon Banta

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Orchard, Nebraska

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Relationship

A Grateful American

He entered the US Army Air Force and became a member of the 703rd Bombardment Squadron , 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force in the European Theater. He was a engineer and machine gunner aboard a B-24 Liberator. On February 24, 1944, his plane took off from his airbase in England for a bombing mission against enemy targets near Gotha, Germany. During the mission, his aircraft sustained damage from enemy fighter attack and exploded in mid-air near Leimbach, Germany. His remains were unidentified until September 2023. The Defense Department DPAA identified his remains and he will be buried at Riverside National Cemetery at Riverside, California.