18 December 1922 - Born in Ace, (Polk County) Texas

Family:

Henry Clinton Walters (Father), Exer (Griffin) Walters (Mother), Ruby (Lannou) Walters (Sister), Sadie V. (Murphy) Walters (Sister), Arley Walters (Brother), Wyatt Walters (Brother), Alton Walters (Brother), Youie Walters (Brother), Ellis Walters (Brother) & Winnie Walters (Sister)



26 June 1942 - Enlisted in Houston, TX

ASN (Enlisted) - 18116399

ASN - O-753764



13 February 1944 - Joined the 38th Fighter Squadron



27 March 1944 - Crash landed after a mission to Bordeaux. Crash landed after losing an engine and the hydraulics on the return from an operational mission to Bordeaux on 27 Mar 1944 in P-38J #42-67259. RTD. Returned on a single engine and crashed at Nuthampstead without injury.



12 April 1944 - Killed in Action

MACR No. 03724



38th Ftr. Sqdn. Intelligence reported from various sources: "2/Lt. Elton S. Walters, hit by flak and exploded over Channel. Lt. Walters was hit by at least three salvos from three heavy guns over Ostend Airdrome at 1410 while flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet. He continued for 5 miles after being hit, losing altitude to 7,000 feet when he was ordered to turn toward land. A few minutes later he said he'd have to bail out because it was getting too hot. Then his left engine caught fire. He made a steep turn to the right and the aircraft exploded at 3,000 feet. Right afterwards, a dinghy appeared behind the airplane empty."



Note from a squadron report: "Group CO made two 360 degree turns over Ostend and all hell broke loose from ack-ack. Pilots agreed we were providing target practice for the Germans over Ostend and a miracle more were not hit. Pilots brooded about this unnecessary loss."



Capt. Gerald F. Leinweber reported: "I was flying 2000 feet above and 1000 yards behind Lt. Walters and we were headed for Ostend. About 3 miles off shore his right engine burst into flames and the plane began to spin and upon completion of one half turn it disintegrated into 3 or 4 major parts and a dinghy was seen in the water, but the pilot was not seen. Just prior to the right engine bursting into flames the pilot called over the radio and said, 'I am going to have to leave it.' But no parachute was observed. It is my belief that the pilot was killed."



Lt. Walters' name is on the wall of the Missing, Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery and Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. He was from Texas.