World War II Honoree

Robert B. Walker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: First Lieutenant. Inducted into the United States Army Air Corps January 18, 1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a graduate of the Cadet Flight Aviation Training program, he accepted his Commission with the rank of Second Lieutenant and awarded the Silver Aviator Badge. He served as a Pilot aboard a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber, assigned to the 401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, and an element of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Bassingbourn Royal Air Force Station Location: Cambridgeshire, England. Saturday, April 17, 1943 his Bomber was shot down by German Fighters, while participating in a Bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. The Flight Group’s mission was to destroy, an operational German Aircraft Plant. He successfully bailed-out, before his aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Bruchhausen, and was captured by the German Armed Forces. His captors transferred him to the Prisoner of War Camp, Stalag Luft III near Sagan, Poland. When the War ended in Europe Tuesday, May 8, 1945 he was liberated, and returned to military control. This American Patriot received the following Decorations: Air Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the Silver Aviator Badge. The Air Medal was awarded to the Lieutenant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.