William L. Dewhirst entered the military service in Michigan. He resided in Saginaw County, Michigan prior to the war. William served as a Corporal and Gunner on F-7B #44-41678, 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

F-7B #44-41678 took off, with a crew of 9, on a combat photo mission from Cox's Bazaar, India. Shortly after takeoff they crashed, for an unknown reason, into the sea off Bengal. 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.

Cpl Dewhirst 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.

Note: An F-7B was actually a B-24 which was converted into a photographic reconnaissance version of the plane.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov