Henry F. Portyrata, Jr. was born in 1921 in Rhode Island. He resided in Providence County, Rhode Island & was a member of the Rhode Island National Guard prior to the war. His National Guard unit was called into full time active Army service on November 25, 1940, prior to the war, from Hillsgrove Army Air Force Base, Rhode Island. He was noted, at that time, as being employed as a Machinist and also as Single, without dependents. Henry served as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on B-24J "The Flying Cloud" #42-73324, 374th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #42-73324 took off from Chengkung, China on a combat mission. After take off the crew was never seen or heard from again. The entire crew of 6 was lost on this mission on June 24, 1944. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until February 13, 1946. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

1Lt Portyrata 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