Kruse Walter J.

Name:

Walter J. Kruse

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-752923

Unit:

601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-07-08

State:

New Jersey

Cemetery:

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England

Plot:

Walls of the Missing

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Walter J. Kruse was born in Chicago, Illinois. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Navigator of B-17 #42-107096 during World War II.

On July 8, 1944, during a mission targeting V-1 "Noball" launch sites near Humieres, France, the aircraft sustained severe damage from German anti-aircraft fire (flak) before reaching its target. Despite the damage, the crew managed to drop their bombs. However, the aircraft was critically damaged and was forced to ditch into the English Channel off the coast of France. Of the nine crew members aboard, only two survived.

1Lt Kruse was reported Missing in Action and officially declared dead on July 8, 1944. His name is memorialized in the Walls of the Missing in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England. Walter J. Kruse's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 20, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.findagrave.com, www.398th.org