Lt. Walter Truemper, Medal of Honor

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Walter Edward Truemper, United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 510th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group (H), Eighth Air Force, in action against the enemy in connection with a bombing mission to Leipzig, Germany, over enemy-occupied Europe on 20 February 1944. The aircraft on which Second Lieutenant Truemper was serving as navigator was attacked by a squadron of enemy fighters with the result that the copilot was killed outright, the pilot wounded and rendered unconscious, the radio operator wounded and the plane severely damaged

Nevertheless, Second Lieutenant Truemper and other members of the crew managed to right the plane and fly it back to their home station, where they contacted the control tower and reported the situation. Second Lieutenant Truemper and the engineer volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving Second Lieutenant Truemper and the engineer aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, Second Lieutenant Truemper's commanding officer decided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism, Second Lieutenant Truemper and the engineer replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be moved and that they would not desert him. They were then told to attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts their plane crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. Second Lieutenant Truemper, the engineer, and the wounded pilot were killed.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 52, June 22, 1944

Action Date: 20-Feb-44

Service: Army Air Forces

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Company: 510th Bombardment Squadron

Regiment: 351st Bombardment Group (H)

Division: 8th Air Force

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3028/truemper-walter-e.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Truemper

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7869648

For the full and dramatic story: http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part2/15_bigweek.html