Lt. Col Walter M. Markey Jr.
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) and U.S. Air Force (USAF)

Background
Walter Marshall Markey Jr. was born March 11, 1920 to parents Walter M. Markey and Annie M. Markley in Bronx, New York. During 1941, his family lived at 105 Sutherland Street, City Island in Bronx, New York when he registered for the U.S. draft. Later, the family moved to 450 City Island Avenue. He graduated high school and attended two years of college and worked as an actor and was single before he joined the military.

Wartime History
On September 27, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) at age 21 as an aviation cadet with serial number 12032671. He attended flight school then earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-0659830. During May 1942 assigned to Hamilton Field and learned to fly the P-38 Lightning.

During late 1942, Markey was flown aboard a B-24 Liberator from the west coast via Hickam Field then across the Pacific bound for Australia. The four P-38 pilots were crammed into the nose: Markey, Carl G. Planck, Jr., Norman "Sneezy" D. Hyland and Richard "Dick" I. Bong.

First Tour of Duty
Bong, Planck, Markey and Hyland were moved up to New Guinea and began flying from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby and were temporarily attached to the 39th Fighter Squadron (39th) to help them transition to the P-38 Lightning and gain combat experience.

Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights" as a fighter pilot. By March 1943, promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. On March 6, 1943 moves to Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) near the north coast of New Guinea. During late 1943, the squadron also operated from Kiriwina Airfield to stage for missions against Rabaul.

On July 10, 1943 Markey was took off as part of "Yellow Flight" as one of three P-38s led by 1st Lt. Richard I. Bong with with P-38G Lightning 43-2271 pilot 1st Lt. Frederick J. Sibley on a mission to escort C-47 transports over the the Salamaua to Mubo area. The weather was strata clouds from 10,000' up to 25,000' with 8/10 coverage and cumulus clouds over the mountains. The trio covered the area until 1:25pm then returned following the coast and flying at low altitude of 50' to 100' over the sea then 20 miles later noticed Sibley was missing. Bong circled in hopes he would catch up and called him over the radio without response. After landing, he reported the loss and later that afternoon flew a search mission with Captain William F. Haney for the missing plane and pilot. Afterwards, Bong made a statement that appeared in Missing Air Crew Report 15081 (MACR 15081) page 8.

Walter Markey emailed Oz@War on April 12, 2001:
"Incidentally, has anyone ventured to locate crashed aircraft along the coast of New Guinea? I was one of four [sic three] in a flight that had been escort for C-47 airdrop above Salamua. At the completion of the drop we made a strafing pass along the Japanese airstrip at Salamua. On the flight back to Dobodura we were flying over the water at about 100' altitude. About halfway back to our base I checked and was unable to locate one of our aircraft [P-38G 43-2271 pilot 1st Lt. Frederick J. Sibley]. Our search and subsequent search by others was without success."

By December 1943 promoted to the rank of Captain.

Aerial Victory Claims
Markey was officially credited with four aerial victories between January 6, 1943 to December 10, 1943.

Victory	Date	Location	Aircraft	Notes on claim
1	01/06/43			First aerial victory claim.
2	03/28/43			Second aerial victory claim.
3	12/10/43			Third aerial victory claim.
4	12/10/43			Fourth aerial victory claim.

After completing his tour of duty, Markey returned to the United States. In early 1945, assigned to the 1st Air Force (1st AF) and was assigned to Hillsgrove Airfield in Rhode Island and flew the P-47 Thunderbolt to train pilots as part of the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC).

On February 10, 1945 Markey was the best man at the wedding of Richard I. Bong and Marjorie "Marge" Vattendahl at Corcordia Lutheran Church in Superior, Wisconsin. The wedding was officiated by Reverend Paul A. Boe.


Postwar
On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before he retired.

Awards
For his World War II service, Markey earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

Memorials
Markey passed away August 23, 2015 at age 95 in Chester, New Jersey. He is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester, NJ with his wife Martha E. Markey and sister Anne T. Haley.

References
U.S. Draft Registration Card - Walter M. Markey, Jr.
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter M. Markey, Jr.
The Standard-Star "Daughter, Three Sons Share Mother's Estate" March 31, 1943 page 2
Daily News "3 Twice Decorated" September 26, 1943 page 21
"G.H.Q., Southwest Pacific Area, Sept 16 (Delayed) (AP) - Lieut. Gen. George C. Kenney, commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific area, has awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of an additional Air Medal to members of the 5th Air Force, including... First Lieut. Walter M. Markey Jr,. of 450 City Island Ave., City Island N.Y. for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial combat over the Bismark Sea, east of Oro Bay, New Guinea in March 1943."
Monroe Evening Times "Military Pals Will Be Aids at Bong Wedding" February 8, 1945
"Superior - (UP) - An Army Air Force officer who flew many missions with Richard I. Bong in the Southwest Pacific, will be Bong's best man when the nation's leading ace is married here Saturday to Marjorie Vattendahl. He is Capt. Walter M. Markey, of City Island, N.Y., who now is with the First Air Force at Hills Grove, R.I. Capt. Markey and Major Bong served together from May 1942 to November 1943 in New Guinea area. Markey shot down four Japanese planes."
Wisconsin State Journal "1,300 Expected to Witness Bong Wedding Saturday" February 9, 1945 page 8
"Superior - (UP) - The ace of the American air forces, Maj. Richard Ira Bong, 24, today named a service buddy, Capt. Walter M. Markey City Island, N.Y. as his best man for the wedding which will culminate Wisconsin's number one romance here Feb. 10... Bong and Markey met in May 1942, and went to the South Pacific together. They flew many missions against the Jap air force together until Bong returned home on leave in November, 1943, after shooting down 27 enemy aircraft, one more than World War I record of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. The two did not fly together again, however when Bong went back to the Pacific and boosted his bag to 40 Jap planes to set the present AAF record. Markey is credit with downing four enemy aircraft. Now stationed at Hillsgrove, R.I., he has shifted from the P-38 Lightnings he flew in the Pacific to a P-47."
Star Tribune "Nation's Good Wishes Go to Alter With Top Ace and His Marge Today" February 10, 1945 page 6
"The best man, Capt. Walter M. Markey, Jr., City Island, N.Y. was on hand to lend moral support and wold be on hand again tonight when the rehearsal was to be held."
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Markey, Walter M. Jr. page 122 (PDF page 129)
Walter M. Markey Collection (AFC/2001/001/75121), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Oz@War Emails from Walter Markey of 39th Squadron, 35th Fighter Group and 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group (2001)
FindAGrave - Walter Marshall Markey Jr. (photo, grave photos)

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