William W. Priest entered the military service in New Jersey. He resided in Camden County, New Jersey prior to the war. William served as a Sergeant and Engineer / Gunner on B-25H #43-4360, 491st Bomber Squadron, 341st Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-25H #43-4360 took off from Yangkai, China on a bombing mission. After completing the mission they ran into extremely bad weather and are believed to have crash at sea. William was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Sgt Priest 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