William B. Thompson entered the military service in California. He served in the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group as a Second Lieutenant during World War II. William was attending the University of California when he volunteered for the service. A pilot of the P-51D #44-63220 aircraft, he was killed when he crash-landed in bad weather on January 16, 1945, near Leiston Airfield. 2LT Thompson is buried now in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.