Walter E. Truemper
Walter Edward Truemper | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 31, 1918 Aurora, Illinois, US |
| Died | February 20, 1944 (aged 25) Polebrook, England |
| Place of burial | Saint Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Montgomery, Illinois |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1944 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | 510th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bomb Group |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart Air Medal |
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.