Herschel C. Kemper was born on November 21, 1920 in Auglaize County, Ohio. He was the pilot on B-24J #42-72841 assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 492nd Bombardment Squadron. On August 13, 1944 they departed their base in Kurmitola India to fly fuel and supplies over the Himalayas to United States Army Air Forces based in Liuchow China. The plane was over Assam approaching the Burmese border and still gaining altitude for the flight over the Hump. At around 5000 to 6000 feet there was an explosion which tore away a section of the right wing and started a widespread fire. The plane started dropping rapidly and Kemper gave the bail-out order. He was able to hold it steady while the others escaped, but the plane crashed before Kemper got out. He is now buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, USA.

Herschel was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is 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