William B. Thompson was born in 1924 in Oklahoma. He was a gunner on B-24J #42-73437 assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron. They were flying as part of a group of planes to bomb targets on Great Coco Island in the Indian Ocean. Moderate anti-aircraft fire was encountered and Thompson's plane was hit. The plane winged over to the right and went almost vertically into the ocean. There were no survivors. Because his body was not recovered, he is listed on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Ssgt Thompson 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.