William R. Walker
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 19 February 1942, then-Second Lieutenant William R. Walker was serving as Pilot of a P-40 Warhawk Fighter Plane in the 33rd Pursuit Squadron (Provisional), 8th Pursuit Group, Far East Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, 2LT Walker’s unit was in aerial combat against Japanese forces near Darwin, Northern Territory. 2LT Walker was flying one of a flight of 10 pursuit airplanes that was forced, by unfavorable weather, to turn back from a ferry flight from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Koepang, Timor, Netherlands East Indies. The flight arrived at Darwin but, before refueling could be finished, information was received regarding a large formation of enemy planes approaching. The Japanese formation consisted of approximately 60 high-level bombers, 36 fighters and 18 dive-bombers. Despite the numerical superiority of the enemy planes, 2LT Walker courageously attacked the Japanese formation, inflicted heavy damage, and continued his attack until his airplane was shot down. 2LT Walker’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) William R. Walker, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 33d Pursuit Squadron (Provisional), 8th Pursuit Group, FAR EAST Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 19 February 1942, near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Second Lieutenant Walker was Pilot of one of a flight of ten pursuit airplanes forced by unfavorable weather to turn back from a ferry flight from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Koepang, Timor, Netherlands East Indies. When the flight arrived at Darwin, and before refueling could be effected, information of the approach of an enemy formation was received. When the approaching enemy, consisting of approximately sixty high-level bombers, thirty-six fighters and eighteen dive-bombers was intercepted, Lieutenant Walker, in spite of the tremendous odds, courageously attacked the enemy formation, inflicting heavy damage, and continued the attack until his airplane was shot down. Second Lieutenant Walker's unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 27 (1942)