Francis Prent Bufkin, aged 24, was born on September 12, 1920. He resided in Copiah County, Mississippi prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on February 2, 1943 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being Single, without dependents. Francis served as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on C-46A #43-47211, 2nd Transport Squadron, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

C-46A #43-47211 took off, with a crew of 4, from Hauchung, China on a cargo mission to Peishiyi, China. After takeoff they were not seen nor heard from again. The entire crew was lost, it was April 7, 1945. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until October 7, 1945. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Hazlehurst Cemetery, Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Mississippi, USA.

Francis was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He 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, www.abmc.gov