Quick Search
 358th Walker Crew
Barton F. Walker, Jr., Pilot
 Home About Us Contact Us Donate Newsletters 8th AFHS Links FAQ Facebook Search
 Personnel Aircraft Nose Art B-17 Thunderbird Ground Support Uniforms Journals More Info
 Mission Reports Combat Crews Individual Photos Photos POW KIA MACR Overseas Graves TAPS


BARTON F. WALKER, JR. CREW - 358th BS
B-17G 43-38065 Princess Pat 2 (358BS) VK-J
(crew assigned 358BS: 27 Dec 1944 - photo: 04 Feb 1945)

(Back L-R) F/O Orville H. Smith (CP), 1Lt Barton F. Walker, Jr. (P),
2Lt Mitchell C. Das (N)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Stanley W. Jasut (R), T/Sgt Frank Magyar (TOG),
Sgt Andrew J. Diaczynski (BTG) T/Sgt Raymond G. Wilhelm (E),
S/Sgt Gerald V. Atkinson (WG), Sgt Ray N. Massey (WG)

Ranks and grades at time of last combat mission.




BARTON F. WALKER, JR. CREW - 358th BS
B-17G 43-38065 Princess Pat 2 (358BS) VK-J
(crew assigned 358BS: 27 Dec 1944 - photo: 17 Jan 1945)

Twenty-one credited combat missions flown by 1Lt Barton F. Walker, Jr.:
299 (8 Jan 45), 301, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317, 322, 326, 327, 343, 350, 356, 358, 362 (17 April 1945). For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions. Had no regularly assigned B-17 and flew in thirteen different B-17s.

Crew Notes:

  • 1Lt Barton F. Walker, Jr. (P) - Flew on 21 combat missions. First mission (299) flown as CoPilot with Combat Orientation Pilot, 1Lt Werner G. Goering and members of his crew. Missions 301 through 326 flown as First Pilot. Missions 327, 343, 350 and 356 flown as a Lead Crew CoPilot. Missions 358 and 362 flown as a Lead Crew First Pilot. Completed 21 combat missions on 17 April 1945 (Mission 362).
  • F/O Orville H. Smith (CP) - Flew on 28 combat missions: Thirteen with 1Lt Walker (302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317, 322, 326). Fifteen with other Pilots - As CoPilot (329, 332, 334, 335, 336, 339, 340, 342, 351, 352, 362), As Lead Crew Tail Gunner/Observer (330, 343, 356, 360). Completed 28 combat missions on 17 April 1945 (Mission 362).
  • 2Lt Mitchell C. Das (N) - Flew on 37 combat missions: Thirteen with 1Lt Walker (301, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317); Twenty-four with other Pilots (299, 301, 315, 318, 322, 329, 330, 331, 332, 336, 339, 340, 342, 344, 347, 348, 349, 353, 354, 355, 356, 358, 360, 362). Completed combat Tour on 17 April 1945 (mission 362).
  • T/Sgt Frank Magyar (TOG) - Flew on 18 combat missions: Twelve with 1Lt Walker (301, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317): Six with other Pilots: (As Togglier 319, 322, 344, As Waist Gunner 343, 358, 362). Completed 18 combat missions on 17 April 1945 (Mission 362).
  • T/Sgt Raymond G. Wilhelm (E) - Flew on 18 combat missions: Seventeen with 1Lt Walker (391, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317, 322, 326, 350, 358, 362); One with another Pilot (332). Completed 18 combat missions on 17 April 1945 (Mission 362).
  • S/Sgt Stanley W. Jasut (R) - Flew on 21 combat missions: Seventeen with 1Lt Walker (301, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317, 322, 326, 350, 358, 362); Four with other Pilots (332, 335, 344, 355). Completed 18 combat missions on 17 April 1945 (Mission 362).
  • Sgt Andrew J. Diaczynski (BT) - Flew on 21 combat missions: Fourteen with 1Lt Walker (301, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317, 322, 326); Seven with other Pilots - (As WG - 339), As BTG - 342, 344, 351, 352, 354, 355. Completed 21 combat mission on 8 April 1945 (Mission 355).
  • S/Sgt Gerald V. Atkinson (WG)(KIA) - Flew on 21 combat missions: Five with 1Lt Walker as Waist Gunner (309, 310, 311, 312, 317); One as Waist Gunner with another Pilot (318). Became a specialized Radio Counter Measure crewman and flew on Fifteen missions as a Spot Jammer (SJ) or Voice Interpreter (VI) with other Pilots (313, 316, 319, 321, 326, 331, 333, 334, 339, 340, 343, 346, 349, 356, 357). Was Killed in Action on mission 357, 10 April 1945, with 2Lt Robert I. Murray (P), to Orienburg, Germany, in B-17G 44-8427 Henn's Revenge (358BS) VK-E. (8 KIA and 1 POW). Was attacked and downed by German ME 262s coming in on the tail of Henn's Revenge. The B-17 burst into flames between the No 3 and No 4 engines, held course for a very few seconds, then peeled slightly up and slid over to the right through the formation, apparently out of control and crashed at Orienburg, Germany..
  • Sgt Ray N. Massey (TG) - Flew on 24 combat missions: Sixteen with 1Lt Walker 301, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317, 322, 326, 350 (As WG) and 362); Eight with other Pilots (322, 336 (As WG), 341, 342, 344, 355, 356, 358). Completed 24 missions on 17 April 1945 (Mission 362).
[photo courtesy of Donna Diaczynski Morrows]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]