William R. Cadugan, aged 20, was born on October 9, 1923. He was the son of Richard M. Cadugan and Edna I. Cadugan. He served in the 462nd Bomb Group, 58th Bomb Wing, XX Bomber Command as a Flight Officer and an Engineer on the C-109 #42-51887.

On September 16, 1944, the plane took off from Kalaikunda, India heading for Chengdu over the Himalayan Mountains. After takeoff, the base lost contact with the airplane.The crash investigation found that once the plane cleared Kalaikunda it was considered lost until reported found by natives in the high mountainous area between India and China at 29 degrees 35 minutes North, 103 degrees 05 minutes East. Wreckage was scattered over a 3-square mile area. Personnel effects found for one of the crew men identified the aircraft. Subsequent research pinpointed the crash site as Mt. Omei. Four other men perished in the crash.

Cadugan is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Union Dale Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. He 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