World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Walter G. Peterman
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENTERED THE AIR CORPS ON JUNE 3, 1942. SERVED AS A WARHAWK (P-40) FIGHTER PILOT, ASSIGNED TO THE 12TH AIR FORCE, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. PARTICIPATED AS PART OF A FIGHTER-BOMBER GROUP SUPPORTING THE BRITISH 8TH ARMY IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGNS. RETURNED 2 HEAVILY FLAK-DAMAGED AIRCRAFT HE WAS FLYING TO HIS BASE AND TOOK ANOTHER TO CONTINUE HIS MISSIONS ON THE SAME DAY. CREDITED WITH THE DOWNING OF 2 GERMAN FOCKE-WULFE 190 AIRCRAFT DURING AIR OPERATIONS IN THE ROME, ITALY AREA. IN SUBSEQUENT ACTION WHILE DIVE-BOMBING ENEMY POSITIONS NEAR ROME, HIS AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS HIT BY ENEMY FIRE AND HE WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE ANZIO BEACHHEAD.