World War II Honoree

Robert D. Walsh

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Louis, Missouri

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. INDUCTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS NOVEMBER 11, 1942 AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. SERVED AS A DOUGLAS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TRANSPORT RADIO OPERATOR ASSIGNED TO THE 75TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 435TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, IX TROOP CARRIER COMMAND, A COMPONENT UNIT OF THE 9TH AIR FORCE STATIONED AT THE ROYAL AIR FORCE WELFORD FIELD, U.S. ARMY AIRFIELD STATION #474, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN THE DARK MORNING HOURS, 01:20 ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 4 OTHER CREWMEMBERS AND 1 PARATROOPER, WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO H-COMPANY, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN MACHINE GUN FIRE BEFORE IT REACHED THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE-C LOCATED AT HIESVILLE, CRASHING NEAR CARENTAN, EAST OF DEAD MANS CORNER ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. THERE WERE 17 OTHER PARATROOPERS ON BOARD THAT WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT WENT DOWN. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO MISSOURI, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.