Walter Lewis Underwood
Military
Object Number - UPL 40399
Force-landed in Switzerland on 5 September 1944 in B-17 'Blues in the Night' #43-37866. Interned (INT) in neutral Switzerland.
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: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11080280
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-1995787
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39136243
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19089659 at enlistment, then O-717137
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-1284491
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Blues in the Night
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 5 September 1944
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Ogden, Utah | 11 February 1922 | |
|
Enlisted |
1 January 1942 | Utah | |
|
Other Interned (INT) |
Switzerland | 5 September 1944 | |
|
Died |
31 October 2009 | ||
| Ogden, Utah | |||
|
Buried |
Walter Underwood rests at the Ben Lomond Cemetery in North Ogden, Utah |
Revisions
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
WWII Draft card
Veterans Affairs BIRLS death File
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8456 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
