Jay W. Stearns.

Sgt. Jay W. Stearns served as ball turret gunner aboard B-24 serial 42-7519, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. He was declared missing in action on 7 January 1944 after the aircraft was lost over France en route to Ludwigshafen.

Both E&E reports contain hearsay information indicating that Stearns, along with Long and one other crew member, was shot by German ground troops after bailing out. Spellman's E&E #484 report, citing French sources, lists him as MIA, while Miller's E&E #693 also lists him as MIA. Status is recorded as KIA based on the consistent hearsay evidence from multiple sources.

His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. John R. Stearns, of Orwell, Ohio.