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| Lt. Walter Dunbar was a B-24 navigator for the 456th Bomb Group that operated out of Italy in 1944. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69103973/walter-a.-dunbar https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/b-24/b-24-liberator-over-graz-austria-1944-744th-bomb-squadron-456th-bomb-group/ |
Walter A. Dunbar never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 29, 1918 in Missouri. His parents Wilbur and Geneva were born in West Virginia and Missouri, respectively. His father worked as an agricultural teacher. Walter had a younger brother and sister. By 1940 Walter had completed two years of college and was living at home.
He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on November 25, 1942 as an aviation cadet. By that time he had graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in agriculture and was working as an accountant.
He became a navigator and first lieutenant in the 747th Bombardment Squadron, 456th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-24 Liberators. It was sent to Italy in January 1944. Most of its targets were in Southern Germany, Austria or the Balkans, including the critical Ploiesti oil fields. It was also assigned to hit targets in southern France prior to the American invasion.
By July the first crews that arrived in January were completing their 50th missions and then being sent home. Around this time Lt. Dunbar was award the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster. He had previously been awarded the Air Medal with three oak leave clusters. I was not able to find out details about the awards.
Lt. Dunbar was flying his 45th mission on July 16, 1944 when he was killed in action. I was not able to find more details about it.
His grave is at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska. His brother and sister both died in 2016.
Last year on this date I profiled B-24 navigator and high school science teacher John La Castro. You can read about John here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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