Walker John Phares

Name:

John Phares Walker

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-720043

Unit:

602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1944-12-30

State:

Oregon

Cemetery:

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

Plot:

C

Row:

5

Grave:

28

Decoration:

Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

John Phares Walker was born on June 13, 1923, in Vida, Lane County, Oregon. He was the son of Frank Linton Walker and Dora Belle Phares Walker. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a First Lieutenant and Navigator of B-17 #42-102610 nicknamed ''Boomerang'' during World War II.

On December 30, 1944, during a mission targeting Bischoffsheim, Germany, Boomerang failed to make the assembly and was seen trailing smoke before crashing into the English Channel off Beachy Head, UK. All nine crew members aboard were killed in action.

1Lt Walker is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England. John P. Walker's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 3, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org