William F. Masek was born on July 12, 1918. He resided in Butler County, Nebraska prior to the war. William served as a Sergeant and Radio Operator on C-46A #41-12409, 303rd Squadron, 30th Transport Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He apparently was a replacement, or volunteer, for this flight since he is was normally a member of the 302nd Squadron instead of the the squadron to which this plane was assigned.

William died in the "Line Of Duty" when his plane crashed while flying supplies over "the hump" into China in Burma during the war. He was declared "Missing in Action" on November 1, 1943 and is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery, Appleton, Butler County, Nebraska.

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