World War II Honoree

Walter I. Green

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Orleans County, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A COPILOT OF A ‘DOUGLAS’ C-47 TROOP TRANSPORT ASSIGNED TO THE 95TH SQUADRON, 440TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, U.S. 9TH AIR FORCE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. KILLED IN ACTION SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1944 DURING THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN, WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN ARTILLERY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF RETIE, BELGIUM. WITH THE LEFT ENGINE AND WING TANK ON FIRE, THE AIRCRAFT EXPLODED INTO FLAMES AND WENT DOWN BEFORE IT REACHED THE PATHFINDER PARATROOPERS DESIGNATED DROP ZONE. HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO NEW YORK FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.