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name
UTLEY, Walter A - Date of
birth
19 September 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Boise, Ada, Idaho -
Hometown
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-735348 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
1 December 1943 - Place of
death
Buderich, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Austin E. Utley (father)
Edythe A. Utley (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31111 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Four Aces - Pat Hand
Destination: Solingen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1659
More information
Walter Utley attended high school for four years and was a chauffeur.He joined the National Guard in boise, Idaho on 16 September 1940.
Crew members of other airplanes in the same group stated that they saw a burst of flak very close to the #3 engine at about two minutes before the I.P. The airplane continued its way, seemingly undisturbed by it. After bombs away, the bomb bay doors remained open and after about 30 seconds it slightly turn away form the formation.
It is believed the airplane crashed in the Rhine river near Buderich. The entire crew of ten men was killed and their remains were never recovered.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Utley Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Matthew Utley, Samantha Dieters