World War II Honoree

Walter Dwight 'Wally' Cassel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Dover, Minnesota

Honored By

Aquaintence

HE ENTERED THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN FEBRUARY 1942. HE BECAME A B-17,FOUR ENGINE BOMBER PILOT IN THE 15TH AIR FORCE, 463RD BOMB GROUP, 775TH BOMB SQUADRON. IN EARLY FEBRUARY 1944 HIS GROUP FERRIED THEIR B-17S FROM FLORIDA TO CELONE AIR FIELD IN FOGGIA, ITALY. FROM THAT AIR FIELD THE 775TH BOMB SQUADRON TOOK PART IN 222 COMBAT MISSIONS FROM MARCH 30 1944 UNTIL APRIL 26 1945.THEY ENGAGED TARGETS IN ITALY, AUSTRIA,GERMANY,FRANCE, CZECH., HUNGARY, YUGOSLAVIA,GREECE AND ROMANIA. ON MAY18, 1944 THE GROUP RAIDED WELL DEFENDED OIL REFINERIES OF PLOESTI, ROMANIA , INCURING HEAVY LOSSES .WALTER FLEW 50 COMBAT MISSIONS AND RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. THE 775TH RECEIVED UNIT CITATIONS FOR RAIDS ON PLOESTI, ROMANIA AND TANK PLANTS IN BERLIN, GERMANY.