WALKER, KENNETH N. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Brigadier General, U.S. Army Air Corps, Commander
of V Bomber Command. Place and date: Rabaul, New Britain, 5 January 1943.
Entered service at: Colorado. Birth: Cerrillos, N. Mex. G.O. No.: 13, 11
March 1943. Citation: For conspicuous leadership above and beyond the call
of duty involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to
life. As commander of the 5th Bomber Command during the period from 5 September
1942, to 5 January 1943, Brig. Gen. Walker repeatedly accompanied his units
on bombing missions deep into enemy-held territory. From the lessons personally
gained under combat conditions, he developed a highly efficient technique
for bombing when opposed by enemy fighter airplanes and by antiaircraft
fire. On 5 January 1943, in the face of extremely heavy antiaircraft fire
and determined opposition by enemy fighters, he led an effective daylight
bombing attack against shipping in the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain, which
resulted in direct hits on 9 enemy vessels. During this action his airplane
was disabled and forced down by the attack of an overwhelming number of
enemy fighters.
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