Raymond Luverne Peterson was born on May 15, 1925 in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. He was 18 years old when he enlisted in the Army Air Force and left for Keesler field, at Biloxi, Mississippi, February 13, 1944, as a cadet, but was transferred to a reserve. He then decided to take up aerial gunnery and was sent to Laredo, Texas, where he was graduated and received his silver gunner's wings on June 30, 1944.

Raymond was a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber with the 14th Air Force, known as the "Famous Flying Tigers." He has been reported missing in action over China on January 12, 1945. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until January 13, 1946, 1 year and 1 day after he went missing as was the custom.

PFC Peterson's name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also 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