Walter J Konantz
Military
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 121 - First Lieutenant Walter J. Konantz, a pilot of the 55th Fighter Group, 1944.
64 missions. Had Scottie dog purchased in London, smuggled on board the troop ship, and brought her home.
DFC/ AM w/ 10 Oak Leaf Cluster/ 2 Unit Citations/ ETO w/ 3 battle stars
1st Lieutenant in the 2nd World War, became part of the 55th Fighter Group in 1944 after passing advanced flying school in the USAAF. He piloted a P-51D named “Saturday Night”. Over the course of his WW2 career from 2nd August 1944 to 29th March 1945 he destroyed 4 enemy aircraft on 4 separate missions. In total he flew 64 missions which totaled 294 hours.
After his tour of duty ended on the 29th March 1945, he married in 1946 to Doris A. Isenmann in Jasper. He served in World War 2, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War.
Additionally Konantz was part of many aviation groups such as the P-51 Mustang Pilots Association, and the 55th Fighter Group Association.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-719368
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Martha Jane
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Lamar, Missouri | 7 March 1922 | |
|
Other Promoted |
16 October 1944 | Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant. | |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
29 March 1945 | Ended Tour of Duty with the 55th Fighter Group. | |
|
Died |
3 April 2001 |
Revisions
http://www.station131.co.uk/55th/Pilots/338th%20Pilots/Konantz%20Walter… (Taken from the pilots directory of www.station131.co.uk).
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / self, 55th FG newsletter
