1st Lt.William J. Fountain was born on September 20, 1919. He was the son of William and Jennie Rowan Fountain. He entered the service in June 1942 from Auburn University into the Corps of Engineers. He later transferred into the Army Air Force and received his wings at Napier Field in March 1943. Later that year, in November, he was sent overseas to a base in India from which he flew C-46 Commandos "over the hump."

In this combat area, he flew a total of 90 missions logging more than 300 hours in the air. On a volunteer flight his plane caught fire and crashed near Kunming, China. Prior to the fatal crash, Lt. Fountain, had remained at the planes controls maintaining a level position long enough for all crew members to safely bail out of the burning aircraft. The aircraft exploded in mid-air before Lt. Fountain, himself, could escape. Crew witnesses testified that only the flying expertise and bravery beyond the call of duty displayed by Lt. Fountain was totally responsible for saving their lives.

CPT Fountain is now buried in the Baptist Cemetery, Monroeville, Monroe County, Alabama, 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