Howard Benjamin Walsh
Military
American Air Museum in Britain, UPL 15357.
Object Number - UPL 37100 - Howard Benjamin Walsh, Pilot of The Little Gramper.
Ben Walsh served as pilot with the 564th Bomb Squadron of the 389th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Hethel, England.
On 19 July 1943, while on TDY to the 9th Air Force, his B-24D, 42-40665, Ten High, was attacked by fighters and he and his crew bailed out near Malta. After the Ploesti raid on 1 August 1943, he took over as the pilot of, The Little Gramper, from Jack Dieterle.
Distinguished Flying Cross (OLC), Air Medal (3 OLC), Purple Heart
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728838
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37418412
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Hampton, Iowa | 25 September 1919 | |
|
Died |
Santa Barbara, California | 7 February 2010 |
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- 14th Combat Bombardment Wing (H) by William B. Taylor
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- 389th BG Roster ;
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
Al Kopp, "389th Reunion," SECOND AIR DIVISION ASSOCIATION News Letter, Vol. 11, #2 (April, 1973): 4 — "Col. Howard "Ben" Walsh, pilot of "the original Little Gramper" has been located in Santa Barbara. (Thanks to Russell Hayes, Waterloo, Iowa). Also, Col. Jim Steiger, pilot of the "Little Gramper, Jr." has sent a big howdy too! Both men and planes are famous in 389th circles! Hope to see you both in tight formation at the reunion. "
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop & Hey pp. 185 & Page 436 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISIONby Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45)
