Joseph J Walters
MilitaryBTG, Disbrow crew. 381st BG, 535th BS. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3225 'Chug-a-Lug Lu-Lu'. Mission 320 "Black Tuesday" to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 378. Evaded. EE report 224.
Pittsburgh, PA
S/Sgt Walters landed in a tree and was assisted down by Belgian civilians who led him to the Belgian underground. He was joined by S/Sgt Kenneth Fahnke (92nd BG, 327th BS) who was wounded. Both met up with Sgt's Bruzewski, Moore and Kiniklis at Liers, Belgium. soon moved to Dr. Charles Kramer's home at Liege, Belgium. Moved with Sgt Fahnke to Bordeaux where they crossed the border into Spain. They turned themselves in to the Spanish police. Made their way back to England on 20 November 1943 via Madrid to Gibraltar.
Credited with one German fighter destroyed on 10 July 1943.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36171511
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-524513
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793745
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15329254
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734665
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Widget, Chug-A-Lug Lulu
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
- Date: 10 July 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Pittsburgh, PA | 16 April 1913 | |
|
Other Evaded (EVD) |
Belgium | 17 August 1943 - 20 November 1943 | EE report 224 |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 378; Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000, www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx