Dahl M. Fansler was born on 9 May 1915 in Canada to Elmer James Fansler (1886-1972) and Leah M. Fansler (1893-1932). Siblings included Agnes B. (Fansler) Rinke (1921-2010), Ella V. (Fansler) Myridc (1917-1995). In 1935 and 1939 he was a meat cutter and lived with his father at 1612 Rainier Ave, Everett, WA. In 1935 he was a meat cutter employed by Durward L. Ambrose and lived with his father, a loader for W.T. Co., at 1432 Broadway, Everett, WA. In 1941, he was a meat cutter and lived at 1806 Virginia Ave., Everett, WA, with his father, who was a mill worker.

He enlisted in the USAAF in Tacoma, Washington, on 2 May 1942. He trained in the maintenance and operation of the .50 caliber aerial machine guns on the B29 Superfortress, earned his crewman wings, and was the tail gunner on the day he died. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant on 30 March 1944. On 14 October 1944, a B-29, # 42-680, "Klank-Klank," assigned to 20th Air Force, Dudhkundi, India, 444th Bomb Group, 678th Bomb Squadron, departed Kwanghang, China, on a bombing mission to Okayma, Taiwan, and was "lost due to unknown reasons." All died in the crash of the B-29 Superfortress. 42-6280 was believed to have been seen when the formation was coming together at Sui-Ning (30-29 N— 105-36 E) at about 0700. The formation entered an overcast and 42-6280 was not seen again. B-29, 42-6202 landed at Liarigshan, believes he heard 42-6280 calling Liangshan when 42-6202 W. circling Liangshan before landing at about 1600. His remains, with the unidentifiable remains of the crew, were recovered from China and all were buried in a two-casket group ceremony in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, Missouri, on 29 November 1949. He also has a marker at the Evergreen Cemetery Everett, Snohomish County, Washington but it is unclear if he was reinterred there or not.

Dahl 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