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| USAAF 5th AF 49th FG 8th FS  USAAF January 14, 1943  Linder circa 1943 |
Pilot Flight Officer Walter J. Linder, O-120806 (survived) Fulton County, GA Force landed December 10, 1943 MACR none Pilot History FO Walter J. Linder was officially credited with two aerial victory claims. His first aerial victory claim was November 7, 1943 His second aerial victory claim was December 10, 1943. Wartime History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40N Warhawk serial number unknown (42-10???? last four digits unknown). Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 8th Fighter Squadron (8th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On December 10, 1943 took off from Gusap Airfield piloted by Flight Officer Walter J. Linder to intercept Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) on a fighter sweep flying down the Ramu Valley. This P-40 was part of "White Flight" lead by Lambert that lost sight of the other friendly fighters in the air. Linder, flying tail-end in the formation was hit by 12mm machine gun fire from a Ki-61 Tony that damaged his plane and caused a coolant leak and was forced to fight his way home, firing and scoring hits on one of the attackers that he claimed as shot down and was later credited as his second aerial victory. Diving to the south, he was again attacked and hit again, wounding him in the ankle. Due to the damage sustained, his engine quit and managed to belly landed in kunai grass about eight miles from Gusap between the Eiwi River and Surinam River roughly one mile in from the west side of the Ramu Valley, Later inspection revealed over 100 bullet holes in the plane. Ultimate fate unknown likely written off. Relatives Robert Ash (brother in law) adds: "He was given credit for destroying an enemy plane that day in a report dated 15 March 1944 from the Fifth Air Force Headquarters. It was the second plane he shot down during his time in New Guinea." Memorial Linder passed away on September 2, 1981. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records- Walter J. Linder USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40N Warhawk does not list this loss, does include P-40N-1 Warhawk 42-104437 condemned Dec 10, 1943" December 1943 USAAF Overseas Accident Reports does not list this loss USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Linder, Walter J. page 115 (PDF page 122) Protect Avenge: The 49th Fighter Group in World War II (1995) page 223 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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