Walter Yerby Tooke

Military

media-44948.jpeg UPL 44948 Captain Walter Yerby Tooke
Photo Recon Pilot
7th PRG - 13th PRS - 8th AF

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1265&h=1209104…

Object Number - UPL 44948 - Captain Walter Yerby Tooke Photo Recon Pilot 7th PRG - 13th PRS - 8th AF

Air Rescue

ETO Ribbon, Air medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force

7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Reconnaissance

Places

Mount Farm

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Born	Mexia, Texas	4 June 1919
Other 7th PRG Combat Tour	Mount Farm Airfield, UK	15 April 1943 - 14 March 1944
Died	Pueblo, CO	12 December 2011	lter Yerby Tooke passed away December 12, 2011 in Pueblo, Colorado. He was born on June 4, 1919 in Mexia Texas to Myrtle Alma (Yerby) Tooke (later Hessig) and Douglas Marvin Tooke and spent his childhood in Texas, moving to Pueblo at age 17. Walter attended Centennial High School followed by a year at Pueblo Junior College in 1940 before transferring to Texas Tech in 1941, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Like many patriotic young men of his generation though, he left before completing his education to serve in the Army Air force during World War II. Walter went through training as an intelligence officer and then entered Aviation training followed by further training as a p-38 photo recognizance pilot in the 13th squadron of the 8th Air Force. As this brave group helped to map out the battlefield they also wrote the manual for war-time photo aviation, losing 17 of 21 young pilots in this squadron. Walter and the other three survivors then pushed forward to train incoming pilots from their own experience, saving many lives and aircraft by sharing their hard earned wisdom. Walter was recalled to extended active duty in 1951 as an intelligence officer and was assigned to Intelligence service in 1952 at Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. He retired as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force reserves in 1979 with 37 years of service, 11 of which were active and 26 in the reserve forces. Walter received decorations and Citations as follows: Air medal with 3 bronze stars GO 183, AF 18 Mar 1944 American Theater ribbon EAME theater ribbon with 1 bronze battle star Victory medal 2 O/S bars. Following his military service Walter began his career as a Combustion Engineer at the CF&I in Pueblo where he worked until he retired in 1984. Always a history buff Walter studied the steel industry and understood it's impact on civilization as well as it's chemistry in production. Walter was a member of Pueblo's Masonic Lodge #17 for 60 years attaining the level of 32nd degree mason. He was also a member of the Alkali Shriners and drove the Kaliope in many parades. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church for 70 years and taught Sunday school for about 40 years – including the 10th and 11th grade children for many years followed by the Crusaders adult Sunday school class. In later years Walter loved to garden and was especially proud of his roses. He also built and flew beautifully constructed remote control model airplanes as a hobby and was always quick to visit sick or bereaved friends.
Buried	Pueblo, CO	16 December 2011	Roselawn Cemetery Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado, USA Plot 7-138-dd
	Pueblo, CO		117 Locust Street