Second Lieutenant Walter Edward Truemper, an airman in the U.S. Army Air Corps, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on February 20, 1944 over Leipzig, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with 510th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. Truemper was 25 years old.
Truemper was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 4, 1944. Aurora, Illinois - presented by Brig. Gen. R. E. O'Neill to his Mother.
Truemper was born on October 31, 1918 in Aurora, Du Page County, Illinois. He is buried at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Aurora, Illinois.
Truemper is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy in connection with a bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe on 20 February 1944. The aircraft on which 2d Lt. 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, 2d Lt. Truemper and other members of his 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 Lt. Truemper and the engineer volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving 2d Lt. Truemper and the engineer aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, 2d Lt. 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, 2d Lt. 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 Lt. Truemper, the engineer, and the wounded pilot were killed.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (February 20, 1944).
- Age at death: 25
- Resting place: St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Walter Edward Truemper received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: navigator
- Education: East Aurora High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- October 31, 1918Born in Aurora, Du Page County, Illinois
- February 20, 1944Act of valor — over Leipzig, GermanyAge 25. 510th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force Killed in action.
- July 4, 1944Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyAurora, Illinois - presented by Brig. Gen. R. E. O'Neill to his Mother
- Resting placeSt. Paul's Lutheran CemeteryAurora, Illinois
Biography
Walter Edward Truemper (October 31, 1918 – February 20, 1944) was a United States Army Air Forces officer in World War II and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He and his crewmate, Staff Sergeant Archibald Mathies, were posthumously awarded the medal for attempting to save the life of their wounded pilot by staying aboard and trying to land their damaged aircraft. Truemper, Mathies, and the pilot were killed when the aircraft crashed following a third unsuccessful landing attempt.
From the Wikipedia article “Walter E. Truemper”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
