William L. Christensen was born in March 1923, to Mr. and Mrs. Louie Christensen. He grew up on his grandfather’s homestead near Milltown, SD, and was the third generation to attend the Stainbrook School.

William joined the armed forces on November 9,1942, and received his training at Gulfport, Mississippi, and North American Aviation School at Englwood, CA. William worked as a mechanic in Kansas City, Missouri, on planes that had been in combat. He then went to Georgia and South Carolina. From there he left on February 17, 1944, to Brazil and from there to China.

He was reported missing April 8, 1944, when he left with two army bombers (B-25) in the 491 Bomber Squadron and 341 Bomber Group, which were attacked by seven Japanese planes off the southeast coast of Hainan Is. U.S. Army Air Force Sgt. William Christensen was reported officially dead by the Adjutant General on January 27,1946.

William’s body was never found, but he is honored at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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