Memorial

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Sgt Ira J. Walker, Jr. graduated from New Auburn High School in 1941. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps on 30 Oct 1942 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Statement from Robert E. Levert, Sgt, 11034354, Tail Gunner:
"Lt Hollenkamp was flying on our left wing and after the bombs dropped, he fell back out of formation. Four ME 109´s breaking through the front of the formation came on him in a head-on attack and then passed to his rear, split up in groups of two and made repeated attacks in criss-cross fashion from the tail and the sides. About the second or third attack the vertical stabilizer(fin) was swept by flames so that you could look through and see the frame work. He continued to fly level and then the whole tail assembly was enveloped by flames. He lost altitude and then vapor trails covered my view. When I last saw him his tail was a mass of flames. I did not see any parachutes.
I was flying in ship # 42-37760, on the opposite wing of the lead ship of the element, that we were both in."

Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner. The other five were killed.

According to surviving crew members, Sgt Walker was killed at his position in the plane.