William Cleveland Arnold was born on July 14, 1920 in Illinois. He was the son of William E. Arnold and Nora M. Arnold. He resided in Pike County, Indiana prior to the war. William served as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot on B-25D #41-30457, 11th Bomber Squadron, 341st Bomber Group, Medium, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-25D #41-30457 took off from Suichwan Airfield, China (APO 430) on a combat mission to sweep over the Yangtze River, China. On a low level run over a ship they dropped their bomb however they are believed to have hit the mast of the ship with their right wing causing them to explode and crash on the bank of the river. The entire crew was lost in this explosion. The ship also exploded. William was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Montgomery Cemetery, Oakland City, Gibson County, Indiana.

2Lt Arnold 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