William E. Walker

WILLIAM E. WALKER, born in Waterbury, CT on December 4, 1926.  Enlisted in the AAF on November 27, 1942 after lying about his age.  Attended Radio School, Truax Field, Madison, WI and Gunnery School at Laredo, TX.  Underwent Phase training at Biggs Field, El Paso, TX.  Joined the 31st Bomb Squadron (5th Bomb Group - 13th AAF) with Ray C. Stubblefield's crew as Radio Operator/Mechanic/Gunner on Guadalcanal in March 1944.  Flew missions against Bougainville, Truk, Wolei, and Yap; as well as1st and 3rd missions against Balikpapan, Borneo for a total of 44 missions.  The move from Noemfoor to Morotai ended in a C-47 crash which broke up the crew.  Returned to the States in January 1945 and was hospitalized until discharge in September 1945. He had ranked as Tech. Sergeant.  Returning, he finished High School and received a college education under the Disabled Veteran's Rehabilitation-Public Law 16.  Graduating from Waterbury Tech. with a degree in electrical engineering, he enjoyed a career in Physical Instrumentation until retirement in August 1990.  "Bill" passed away October 11, 2011 at age 84 after a short battle with lung cancer.