Lawrence Sybesma was born on May 19, 1923. He was the left gunner on B-29 #42-6389 "Party Girl". He died on December 7, 1944 on a mission to the Mukden aircraft factory from forward base in Pengshan, China. The plane he was in hit a mountain after the Mukden raid. The pilot was Calvin L Lyons.

The official description:
Failed to return from the mission and was contacted 1 hour and 15 minutes from A-7 (Pengshan). The element leader contacted 42-6389 and told Aircraft Commander Lt. Lyons to break up formation in order to start descent through the undercast. 42-6389 answered back and started a 360-degree turn, which is normal procedure for aircraft flying in the #3 position. The element leader started a descend into the undercast but upon finding that ice was beginning to form on the wings very quickly decided to climb above the undercast and make a quick descent in the general area of A-7. 42-6389 was never seen again after starting the 360-degree turn.

2Lt Sybesma is now buried in the Grandville Cemetery, Grandville, Kent County, Michigan, 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