![]() Kenneth Newton Walker was born 17 July 1898 at Los Cerrillos, a tiny community along the “Turquoise Trail” in the Territory of New Mexico. ![]() On 12 December 1945, the crew of San Antonio Rose were reclassified as Killed in Action.Īn 8 minute, 34 second, film of the 5 January 1943 mission from the National Archives and Records Administration is available on YouTube: The 11 airmen were listed as Missing in Action.³ Searches over the next several days were unsuccessful. San Antonio Rose and its crew never returned from the mission. A Fifth Air Force message stated, “ Later B-17 was observed heading south just east of Vunakanau at about 5,000 feet, left outboard engine smoking but later appeared alright, was being closely pursued by four to five Zekes and last seen going into clouds.” A Japanese fighter pilot wrote that the B-17 was seen flying to the south, about 25 miles south of Rabaul. San Antonio Rose, the B-17 carrying General Walker, was seen trailing smoke and diving through clouds. Four of the five B-17s which returned to Port Moreseby were damaged. One of the B-24s had been badly damaged and diverted to Milne Bay. Enemy shipping under attack in Simpson Harbor, 5 January 1943. The bomber crews claimed several ships sunk and damaged.²Īs the bombing force left the target, it was attacked by enemy fighter aircraft, which were described as Mitsubishi A6M Navy Type 0 (Allied reporting name, “Zeke,” but best known as the “Zero”) or Nakajima Ki-43 Army Type 1 Fighters (the Hayabusa, Allied reporting name, “Oscar”). Anti-aircraft artillery fire was light and ineffective. The bombers arrived over Rabaul at 8,500 feet (2,591 meters) at 12:00 p.m., local time, and the formation broke up to make individual attacks against the ships in the harbor. There were a total of 11 airmen on board.¹ Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) en route to attack Rabaul, New Britain, 5 January 1943. Also on board as observers were Lieutenant Colonel Jack Bleasdale, the executive officer of the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), and Brigadier General Kenneth Newton Walker, commanding general, V Bomber Command, Fifth Air Force. Leading the attack force was B-17 41-24458, San Antonio Rose, flown by Major Allen Lindberg, commanding officer, 64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and Captain Benton Hayes Daniel, Jr. Their mission was to attack an enemy shipping convoy believed to be approaching the Japanese military base at Rabaul on the neighboring island of New Britain. On the morning of 5 January 1943, six Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and six Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers departed 7 Mile Drome, an airfield near Port Moresby at the eastern end of the island of New Guinea. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers of the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) parked in revetments at 7 Mile Drome (Jackson Airfield), Port Moresby, 31 December 1942. During this action his airplane was disabled and forced down by the attack of an overwhelming number of enemy fighters. On 5 January 1943, in the face of extremely heavy antiaircraft fire and determined opposition by enemy fighters, he led an effective daylight bombing attack against shipping in the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain, which resulted in direct hits on 9 enemy vessels. From the lessons personally gained under combat conditions, he developed a highly efficient technique for bombing when opposed by enemy fighter airplanes and by antiaircraft fire. ![]() Walker repeatedly accompanied his units on bombing missions deep into enemy-held territory. As commander of the 5th Bomber Command during the period from 5 September 1942, to 5 January 1943, Brig. Place and date: Rabaul, New Britain, 5 January 1943.įor conspicuous leadership above and beyond the call of duty involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life. Army Air Corps, Commander of V Bomber Command. Rank and organization: Brigadier General, U.S. Brigadier General Kenneth Newton Walker, United States Army Air Forces.
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