World War II Honoree

Frank Edward Walker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hillside, New Jersey

Honored By

Wife

He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in December of 1941 and was commissioned as a combat pilot in December of 1942. He received his wings at Dale Mabry Field, Florida in February 1943. He was a P-47 Fighter Pilot. He past the half-century mark of combat flying on April 6, 1944. During one of those first fifty missions, he shot down four enemy planes and damaged seven on the ground. He held the Air Medal with twelve Oak Leaf Clusters for completing 89 missions as a fighter pilot, as well as two Presidential unit citations. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded after he led a squadron to bring down nine enemy fighters while protecting an Army Air Forces bomber mission. He led his flight on a fighter sweep and escort mission over Italy. En route to the target, approximately 50 enemy fighters intercepted the bomber formation. Leading his flight in the attack against superior numbers of enemy aircraft, he successfully destroyed one enemy fighter. So skillfully did he maneuver his flight, that, in the ensuing engagement, he and his fellow pilots destroyed nine enemy fighters, and drove off the remainder of the hostile force, thus enabling the bombers to complete a highly successful mission. By his outstanding leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty, together with his personal combat record of over 54 successful missions against the enemy, he has reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America. He returned to the U.S. in July, 1944.