WW2 Fallen - Medal of Honor hero and B-17 navigator Walter Truemper

Lt. Walter Truemper was the navigator on the last flight of the B-17 Ten Horsepower.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7869648
http://www.351st.org/px/ 

Walter Edward Truemper never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 31, 1918 in Illinois. His parents Henry and Friedericke were both born in Hesse, Germany. They immigrated to the United States in 1882. His father worked as a cigar store owner. Walter had six older brothers, one older sister, one younger brother, and one younger sister. Walter completed four years of college and found work as a clerk.

He enlisted in the army on June 23, 1942. He went to flight school and was trained to be a navigator. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on August 26, 1943 and was sent to England as a replacement aircrew member in December 1943. He was assigned to the 510th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, 8th Army Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

On February 20, 1944, the 351st BG flew its 81st mission to bomb Leipzig. Lt. Truemper was the navigator on B-17 Ten Horsepower. The bomber was attacked head-on by two Me 109s as it was approaching the target. A canon shell exploded in the cockpit, killing the co-pilot and knocking out the pilot. The bomber fell into a spiraling dive, pinning the other men to the sides of the plane with centrifugal force. After a drop of 15,000 feet, the top turret gunner dragged himself into the cockpit and, standing between the slumped pilots, managed to pull back the yokes and level out the plane.

Navigator Walter Truemper took over the flying and was soon joined by ball turret gunner Archibald Mathies, who had a few hours of flying experience. The bombardier had bailed, but despite the gaping hole in the cockpit, the plane was otherwise undamaged. The pilot-less crew decided to fly back to England. Sgt. Mathies did most of the flying, but with the freezing cold wind coming from head on, Lt Truemper spelled him off. They had to fly standing between the pilot seats because the co-pilot seat was directly in the path of the wind and the pilot could not be moved due to his grave injuries.

Ten Horsepower made it back to base at Polebrook, England and radioed for help in landing. The first attempt went poorly as the inexperienced Sgt. Mathies, further impaired by fatigue and wind exposure, was waived off for being too erratic. The tower ordered the crew to jump, so the other five bailed out before Mathies came in for his second attempt. The base sent up a bomber to help guide his landing. His second attempt was no better than the first so the tower told Mathies to point the plane to the sea, put the plane on autopilot, and then jump. Mathies and Truemper would not leave their wounded skipper so they tried one last attempt to land the plane. It was not successful. They were both killed and the pilot only survived the crash for an hour before expiring.

Mathies and Truemper were both awarded the Medal of Honor. Here is Lt. Truemper's citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy in connection with a bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe on 20 February 1944. 

The aircraft on which 2d Lt. Truemper was serving as navigator was attacked by a squadron of enemy fighters with the result that the co-pilot was killed outright, the pilot wounded and rendered unconscious, the radio operator wounded and the plane severely damaged. Nevertheless, 2d Lt. Truemper and other members of the crew managed to right the plane and fly it back to their home station, where they contacted the control tower and reported the situation. 

2d Lt. Truemper and the flight engineer volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving 2d Lt. Truemper and the engineer aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, 2d Lt. Truemper's commanding officer decided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism, 2d Lt. Truemper and the engineer replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be moved and that they would not desert him. They were then told to attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts their plane crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. 2d Lt. Truemper, the engineer, and the wounded pilot were killed.

His grave is at Saint Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Montgomery, Illinois.

Thank you Lt. Truemper for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Walter.

Last year on this date I profiled Avenger airman Ordien Herr. You can read about Ordien 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!

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