He was the 4th child of
Joseph and Lucy (Kelley) Brookings.
Born and raised in Brookline Massachusetts. He graduated from Brookline High School, class of 1939 (photo shown is from his high school yearbook).
2Lt. Walter F. Brookings was part of the US 8th Army Airforce; 384th Bomb Group, 545th Bomb Squad.
A co-pilot in several B-17 bombers;
Plane's tail numbers and names (flew once unless noted)
41-24578, Old Reliable,
42-29632, Cased Ace,
42-5404, The Geezil,
42-37792, Bermondsey,
42-40005, Salvage Queen II,
42-29554, Name not known,
42-31484, Mairsy Doats - 3 missions
42-29828, Name not known,
42-38112, Mrs Geezil
42-31926, *LOVELL'S HOVEL-9 missions (*and last).
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- Joseph Franklin Lewis
**(lived 81yrs, 6 mon, 23 days)
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT.Martin Paul Bachicha
**(lived 71yrs, 10 mon, 14 days)
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos
**(lived 85yrs, 4 mon, 4 days)
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham
**(lived 66yrs, 11 mon, 17 days)
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
He and 5 others were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia
-*Lovell's Hovel crew member notation;
S/Sgt. Warren Tessmer (Ball Turret), was filling in on another plane, Miss Billie Jr. 42-31166, one day before Lovell's Hovel's last flight. Warren was severely injured while filling in (18March1944) and was not able to fly with his Lovell crew the next day. S/Sgt James H. Johnson filled in for Warren on 19March1944 (listed above).
*Special Note: Walter is actually buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Find A Grave Memorial (clickable link)# 56642685
The Brookings headstone bears the memorial of his name for the sacrifice to his country.
Link to 384th Bomb Group, Individual Personnel Data page:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=472
After many years of research, emails/calls, "Article 27" was passed by his hometown of Brookline, MA to dedicate a Hero Square in his name. It was unanimously approved on 17 November 2016 at the Brookline's Town Hall meeting (which was held in the auditorium of Brookline High School, where Walter had once attended many school programs in those very seats).
During Brookline's Memorial Day parade, 29 May 2017, signage was unveiled... Walter F. Brookings Square.
It stands directly across the street from where his house once stood at 126 Cypress St. (See photo)
Joseph and Lucy (Kelley) Brookings.
Born and raised in Brookline Massachusetts. He graduated from Brookline High School, class of 1939 (photo shown is from his high school yearbook).
2Lt. Walter F. Brookings was part of the US 8th Army Airforce; 384th Bomb Group, 545th Bomb Squad.
A co-pilot in several B-17 bombers;
Plane's tail numbers and names (flew once unless noted)
41-24578, Old Reliable,
42-29632, Cased Ace,
42-5404, The Geezil,
42-37792, Bermondsey,
42-40005, Salvage Queen II,
42-29554, Name not known,
42-31484, Mairsy Doats - 3 missions
42-29828, Name not known,
42-38112, Mrs Geezil
42-31926, *LOVELL'S HOVEL-9 missions (*and last).
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- Joseph Franklin Lewis
**(lived 81yrs, 6 mon, 23 days)
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT.Martin Paul Bachicha
**(lived 71yrs, 10 mon, 14 days)
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos
**(lived 85yrs, 4 mon, 4 days)
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham
**(lived 66yrs, 11 mon, 17 days)
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
He and 5 others were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia
-*Lovell's Hovel crew member notation;
S/Sgt. Warren Tessmer (Ball Turret), was filling in on another plane, Miss Billie Jr. 42-31166, one day before Lovell's Hovel's last flight. Warren was severely injured while filling in (18March1944) and was not able to fly with his Lovell crew the next day. S/Sgt James H. Johnson filled in for Warren on 19March1944 (listed above).
*Special Note: Walter is actually buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Find A Grave Memorial (clickable link)# 56642685
The Brookings headstone bears the memorial of his name for the sacrifice to his country.
Link to 384th Bomb Group, Individual Personnel Data page:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=472
After many years of research, emails/calls, "Article 27" was passed by his hometown of Brookline, MA to dedicate a Hero Square in his name. It was unanimously approved on 17 November 2016 at the Brookline's Town Hall meeting (which was held in the auditorium of Brookline High School, where Walter had once attended many school programs in those very seats).
During Brookline's Memorial Day parade, 29 May 2017, signage was unveiled... Walter F. Brookings Square.
It stands directly across the street from where his house once stood at 126 Cypress St. (See photo)
He was the 4th child of
Joseph and Lucy (Kelley) Brookings.
Born and raised in Brookline Massachusetts. He graduated from Brookline High School, class of 1939 (photo shown is from his high school yearbook).
2Lt. Walter F. Brookings was part of the US 8th Army Airforce; 384th Bomb Group, 545th Bomb Squad.
A co-pilot in several B-17 bombers;
Plane's tail numbers and names (flew once unless noted)
41-24578, Old Reliable,
42-29632, Cased Ace,
42-5404, The Geezil,
42-37792, Bermondsey,
42-40005, Salvage Queen II,
42-29554, Name not known,
42-31484, Mairsy Doats - 3 missions
42-29828, Name not known,
42-38112, Mrs Geezil
42-31926, *LOVELL'S HOVEL-9 missions (*and last).
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- Joseph Franklin Lewis
**(lived 81yrs, 6 mon, 23 days)
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT.Martin Paul Bachicha
**(lived 71yrs, 10 mon, 14 days)
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos
**(lived 85yrs, 4 mon, 4 days)
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham
**(lived 66yrs, 11 mon, 17 days)
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
He and 5 others were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia
-*Lovell's Hovel crew member notation;
S/Sgt. Warren Tessmer (Ball Turret), was filling in on another plane, Miss Billie Jr. 42-31166, one day before Lovell's Hovel's last flight. Warren was severely injured while filling in (18March1944) and was not able to fly with his Lovell crew the next day. S/Sgt James H. Johnson filled in for Warren on 19March1944 (listed above).
*Special Note: Walter is actually buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Find A Grave Memorial (clickable link)# 56642685
The Brookings headstone bears the memorial of his name for the sacrifice to his country.
Link to 384th Bomb Group, Individual Personnel Data page:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=472
After many years of research, emails/calls, "Article 27" was passed by his hometown of Brookline, MA to dedicate a Hero Square in his name. It was unanimously approved on 17 November 2016 at the Brookline's Town Hall meeting (which was held in the auditorium of Brookline High School, where Walter had once attended many school programs in those very seats).
During Brookline's Memorial Day parade, 29 May 2017, signage was unveiled... Walter F. Brookings Square.
It stands directly across the street from where his house once stood at 126 Cypress St. (See photo)
Joseph and Lucy (Kelley) Brookings.
Born and raised in Brookline Massachusetts. He graduated from Brookline High School, class of 1939 (photo shown is from his high school yearbook).
2Lt. Walter F. Brookings was part of the US 8th Army Airforce; 384th Bomb Group, 545th Bomb Squad.
A co-pilot in several B-17 bombers;
Plane's tail numbers and names (flew once unless noted)
41-24578, Old Reliable,
42-29632, Cased Ace,
42-5404, The Geezil,
42-37792, Bermondsey,
42-40005, Salvage Queen II,
42-29554, Name not known,
42-31484, Mairsy Doats - 3 missions
42-29828, Name not known,
42-38112, Mrs Geezil
42-31926, *LOVELL'S HOVEL-9 missions (*and last).
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- Joseph Franklin Lewis
**(lived 81yrs, 6 mon, 23 days)
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT.Martin Paul Bachicha
**(lived 71yrs, 10 mon, 14 days)
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos
**(lived 85yrs, 4 mon, 4 days)
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham
**(lived 66yrs, 11 mon, 17 days)
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
He and 5 others were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia
-*Lovell's Hovel crew member notation;
S/Sgt. Warren Tessmer (Ball Turret), was filling in on another plane, Miss Billie Jr. 42-31166, one day before Lovell's Hovel's last flight. Warren was severely injured while filling in (18March1944) and was not able to fly with his Lovell crew the next day. S/Sgt James H. Johnson filled in for Warren on 19March1944 (listed above).
*Special Note: Walter is actually buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Find A Grave Memorial (clickable link)# 56642685
The Brookings headstone bears the memorial of his name for the sacrifice to his country.
Link to 384th Bomb Group, Individual Personnel Data page:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=472
After many years of research, emails/calls, "Article 27" was passed by his hometown of Brookline, MA to dedicate a Hero Square in his name. It was unanimously approved on 17 November 2016 at the Brookline's Town Hall meeting (which was held in the auditorium of Brookline High School, where Walter had once attended many school programs in those very seats).
During Brookline's Memorial Day parade, 29 May 2017, signage was unveiled... Walter F. Brookings Square.
It stands directly across the street from where his house once stood at 126 Cypress St. (See photo)
Inscription
Lieut. Walter F. Brookings U.S.A.A.F.
Killed In Action March 19, 1944
