Joined the Army Air Corps in December 1940 and received flight training at Love Field in Dallas. Assigned Materiel Transport flying duties and worked with the initial cadre to figure out how to drop parachutists from air transport aircraft at Paterson Field, Ohio (now Wright Patterson AFB, near Dayton), and Ft Benning Georgia. Dispatched to North Africa in 1942, leading a group of C-47's. He served in the 316th Troop Carrier Group, 9th AF. Fought Rommel in Operation Torch, then Mussolini during Operation Husky through Sicily and up through Italy, then based in England and eventually dropped the 101st Airborne over France in Operation Overlord (D-Day). Col Washburn served in the Air Force Staff supporting the Berlin Airlift. He maintained that his crowning achievement in a 30 year career in the Air Force, was his instrumental lead of the Air Transport Requirements division in the 1950's, which established the specifications for a new tactical combat airlift platform that would become the C-130.
His military decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre. He earned the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, African Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
2nd Lt. Walter Washburn married Frances Grace Quirke, of Champaign Urbana, Illinois on July 4, 1941. That was the one day he knew that he could get a pass. Walter and Frances had five children. At his death, age 101, he had eleven grand children, and twelve great grand children.
His military decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre. He earned the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, African Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
2nd Lt. Walter Washburn married Frances Grace Quirke, of Champaign Urbana, Illinois on July 4, 1941. That was the one day he knew that he could get a pass. Walter and Frances had five children. At his death, age 101, he had eleven grand children, and twelve great grand children.
Joined the Army Air Corps in December 1940 and received flight training at Love Field in Dallas. Assigned Materiel Transport flying duties and worked with the initial cadre to figure out how to drop parachutists from air transport aircraft at Paterson Field, Ohio (now Wright Patterson AFB, near Dayton), and Ft Benning Georgia. Dispatched to North Africa in 1942, leading a group of C-47's. He served in the 316th Troop Carrier Group, 9th AF. Fought Rommel in Operation Torch, then Mussolini during Operation Husky through Sicily and up through Italy, then based in England and eventually dropped the 101st Airborne over France in Operation Overlord (D-Day). Col Washburn served in the Air Force Staff supporting the Berlin Airlift. He maintained that his crowning achievement in a 30 year career in the Air Force, was his instrumental lead of the Air Transport Requirements division in the 1950's, which established the specifications for a new tactical combat airlift platform that would become the C-130.
His military decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre. He earned the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, African Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
2nd Lt. Walter Washburn married Frances Grace Quirke, of Champaign Urbana, Illinois on July 4, 1941. That was the one day he knew that he could get a pass. Walter and Frances had five children. At his death, age 101, he had eleven grand children, and twelve great grand children.
His military decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre. He earned the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, African Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
2nd Lt. Walter Washburn married Frances Grace Quirke, of Champaign Urbana, Illinois on July 4, 1941. That was the one day he knew that he could get a pass. Walter and Frances had five children. At his death, age 101, he had eleven grand children, and twelve great grand children.
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