John Frederick Miesse was born on November 7, 1921. He served in the 462nd Bomb Group, 58th Bomb Wing, XX Bomber Command as a First Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the C-109 #42-51887.

On September 16, 1944, the plane took off from Kalaikunda, India heading for Chengdu over the Himalayan Mountains. After takeoff, the base lost contact with the airplane.The crash investigation found that once the plane cleared Kalaikunda it was considered lost until reported found by natives in the high mountainous area between India and China at 29 degrees 35 minutes North, 103 degrees 05 minutes East. Wreckage was scattered over a 3-square mile area. Personnel effects found for one of the crew men identified the aircraft. Subsequent research pinpointed the crash site as Mt. Omei. Four other men perished in the crash.

1Lt Miesse is now buried in the Amanda Township Cemetery, Amanda, Fairfield County, Ohio, USA. He also has a cenotaph located in Amanda Township Cemetery, Amanda, Fairfield County, Ohio. 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