Grave Site: 5.E.4.   Isolated Burial

An inscribed brass plate attached at a low angel to a stone; a standard Commonwealth Grave (CWGC) for this location.

William B. Rice was born about 1919 in Charlestown, South Caroline.  He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as a pilot in the 139^th Bomber Squadron in the Pacific Theater.  On April 23, 1942 he was shot down and killed.  He is buried the in the Chittagong Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Chattogram, Bangladesh.  He is the only American in this cemetery of 715 graves.

From the CWGC Files:

PILOT OFFICER

WILLIAM B. RICE

Service Number: 106353

Regiment & Unit/Ship: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 139 Sqdn.

Died 23 April 1942

Age 23 years old

Additional Info:

Son of William B. Rice and Birdie Furse Rice, of Savannah, Georgia, U.S.A.

Personal Inscription:

BORN CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA, U.S.A. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM

PILOT OFFICER

W. B. RICE

Pilot

Royal Air Force

Died 23 April 1942. Age 23 

BORN CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA, U.S.A.