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Walter A. Koch was a construction worker.

He enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 7 January 1942.

This B-17 was hit by Flak over Vlissingen, the Netherlands. The two inner engines were hit. A few minutes later, the aircraft received a second shell hit, possibly over Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. The plane had to leave the formation and became the prey of German fighters. 1st Lt Mayer Isiah Hurwitz, the navigator, was hit. Then it was the turn of the pilot Carmelo Pelusi. The co-pilot, Don E. Falk, immediately realized that his captain was dead and took over the controls. In a subsequent attack, however, he was injured on the hands, arms and legs while the aircraft suffered further damage and began to dive. Don Falk, however, was able to engage the autopilot and this returned the shaking and creaking machine to level flight.

This gave two crew members, the bombardier, 2nd Lt Bruce Yarwood and the injured Mayer Hurwitz, the chance to bail out. They were shot at by fighter pilots, while they hung defenseless from their parachutes. Mayer Hurwitz was killed that way. Yarwood attempted to escape after landing, but was taken prisoner.

Meanwhile, the wreckage crashed between Hofstraat and Steenstraat in Tielrode.

Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.