William Allen Rutledge was born on November 12, 1917. He was graduated from the Sharpsburg high school in 1934 and from Iowa State college in 1938. He entered ROTC training at Iowa State college in 1934, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 1938 and entered active duty in August 1941. He transferred from field artillery to the Air Force in 1942 and received his wings at Victorville, Calif., in 1942. He was sent overseas in January 1943; received the Air Medal and had been recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross.

1Lt Rutledge was killed in action with the U.S. Army Air Forces in a raid over Indo-China on September 15, 1943, at the age of 25. His aircraft began a slow spiral down to his left, crew members were ordered to jump and were immediately machine gunned as they floated helplessly to the ground. 1Lt Rutledge was killed by a shot to the head. He is now buried in the Lexington Cemetery, Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa, USA. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945 and is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com