Albert Pearson was born on April 13, 1920, in Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado. He was the son of Albert E. Pearson and Minerva C. Richardson Pearson. Albert served in the 780th Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomber Group, as a Staff Sergeant and crew member on the B-24 #42-78308 during World War II.

On August 3, 1944, the B-24 Liberator 42-78308 took part in a major bombing mission over Austria. As the formation passed through the heavily defended Tyrol region it was met by intense German resistance, including heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter interception. During this violent engagement, one of the largest air battles over Tyrol in the war in which eight B-24s from the same group were lost, the aircraft was critically hit and went down near Biberwier, Austria. It was destroyed, resulting in four crew members killed in action while the remaining crew survived by bailing out and were captured as prisoners of war.

SSgt Pearson was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, Aviation Safety Network, www.abmc.gov