Walter C. Ciochon served in the 677th Bombardment Squadron, 444th Bombardment Group as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-29 42-6286 "Praying Mantis". They were returning from a mission to Yawata, Japan on Aug 20, 1944 and disappeared. Years later, a Chinese team hiked up a local mountain and found the remains of the crew and plane. Artifacts from the wreck were transported to the US and donated to the New England Air Musuem in Hartford, CT where they are on permanent display. The cause of the wreck was determined to be a lack of fuel, and poor visibility which caused them to crash into the mountain. He is now buried in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA in a common grave with his crew.

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 but his name is inscribed as Waler.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com