Samuel Thornton “Bugs” Walker Jr. was born on October 27, 1922, in Oakhurst, San Jacinto County, Texas. He was the son of Sam Thornton Walker and Clara Walker. He enlisted in the service on August 5, 1942. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17 #43-38697 during World War II.

On February 3, 1945, during a bombing mission over Berlin, the B-17G 43-38697 was involved in a mid-air collision with another B-17 42-97387, nicknamed "Maude An' Maria," from the 602nd Bomb Squadron of the same group. The collision occurred near Lehmke, Germany, resulting in the crash of both aircraft. Tragically, eight of the nine crew members aboard 43-38697 were killed in the collision, and only one survived and was taken as a prisoner of war.

2Lt Walker was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery, Trinity, Trinity County, Texas, USA. Samuel T. Walker's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 4, in the top left wing (section A).

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