Guyton M. Christopher
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 6 January 1943, Second Lieutenant Guyton M. Christopher was serving with the 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), Fifth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, 2LT Christopher's was a member of the air crew on B-17F Flying Fortress serial number 41-24383 in action against Japanese forces while participating in a bombing mission against enemy ground targets at Gasmata, New Britain, in the Southwest Pacific Area. While returning from the bombing mission the B-17 ran out of fuel and crash landed in the Gulf of Papua. 2LT Christopher's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Initially listed as Missing in Action, 2LT Christopher was one of six crew members killed in the plane.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Aircrew Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Guyton M. Christopher (0-789369), Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as an Officer of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 6 January 1943, against enemy ground targets in the Southwest Pacific Area. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Christopher on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 34 (1943)

Memorialization

The remains of Second Lieutenant Guyton M. Christopher have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56775108

He is also remembered on a cenotaph located next to his parent's grave at the Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Fulton County, GA.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110950274