Rutherford Donald Irving, Jr.

Monuments

The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan

Name:

Donald Irving, Jr. Rutherford

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

Unit:

9th Bomber Squadron, 7th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1945-07-11

State:

Pennsylvania

Cemetery:

Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard, Pennsylvania

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Donald Irving Rutherford, Jr. was born on February 1, 1924 in Pennsylvania. He was the co-pilot of B-24J #42-78686 assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron. They were flying a load of fuel from Tezpur airbase in India to Hsinching airbase in Chengtu China. They encountered a bad thunderstorm upon arriving at their destination and while trying to land in the rain and fog crashed in the low hills northeast of Chengtu. All aboard were killed. 2Lt Ruther is now buried in the Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA. He 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