Pilot of P-38J s/n 42-104067 ''Little Bug''.
Walter F. Perra and his four brothers and sister grew up in Ceres, California. Medrick, Walter's brother, was a talented tool and die maker who worked for Douglas Aircraft, making aircraft for the war effort in World War II. His brother, Joe, also served in the war as a navigator and bomber who flew from North Africa and Italy to Germany and Austria. Walter was a P-38 pilot assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group. He was training at the Santa Ana Army Air Base by February 22, 1943, and wrote many letters home: "I still hope I'll be classified for pilot training." By April 8, 1944, Perra was stationed in Kings Cliffe, England, and wrote many letters to his family about the kindness of the English people. From April 1944, through early June of that same year, Perra flew 14 missions.When D-Day arrived, Walter was assigned to support the fleet for what he referred to as "the Big Show." He flew five more sorties during the invasion, attacking German trains bringing supplies to the front lines. He became Missing in Action on June 15, 1944, while flying over Dreux. Hit by enemy fire, according to French eyewitnesses, he could have bailed out and saved himself, but chose to steer the aircraft away from the town of Les Corvées below him before trying to bail out at only 100 ft. above the ground. He was killed instantly.The civilians of Les Corvées and Dreux held a ceremony in 1944 to honor Walter, and buried him in secret, defying the Germans. He lay buried and listed as missing in action until a few months after the war ended and an American Graves Registration unit was able to discover his identity. A small monument to Perra, erected by the villagers of Les Corvées, is located near the original crash site.2nd Lt. Walter F. Perra is buried in Normandy American Cemetery, plot B, row 17, grave 24. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
Walter F. Perra and his four brothers and sister grew up in Ceres, California. Medrick, Walter's brother, was a talented tool and die maker who worked for Douglas Aircraft, making aircraft for the war effort in World War II. His brother, Joe, also served in the war as a navigator and bomber who flew from North Africa and Italy to Germany and Austria. Walter was a P-38 pilot assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group. He was training at the Santa Ana Army Air Base by February 22, 1943, and wrote many letters home: "I still hope I'll be classified for pilot training." By April 8, 1944, Perra was stationed in Kings Cliffe, England, and wrote many letters to his family about the kindness of the English people. From April 1944, through early June of that same year, Perra flew 14 missions.When D-Day arrived, Walter was assigned to support the fleet for what he referred to as "the Big Show." He flew five more sorties during the invasion, attacking German trains bringing supplies to the front lines. He became Missing in Action on June 15, 1944, while flying over Dreux. Hit by enemy fire, according to French eyewitnesses, he could have bailed out and saved himself, but chose to steer the aircraft away from the town of Les Corvées below him before trying to bail out at only 100 ft. above the ground. He was killed instantly.The civilians of Les Corvées and Dreux held a ceremony in 1944 to honor Walter, and buried him in secret, defying the Germans. He lay buried and listed as missing in action until a few months after the war ended and an American Graves Registration unit was able to discover his identity. A small monument to Perra, erected by the villagers of Les Corvées, is located near the original crash site.2nd Lt. Walter F. Perra is buried in Normandy American Cemetery, plot B, row 17, grave 24. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
Pilot of P-38J s/n 42-104067 ''Little Bug''.
Walter F. Perra and his four brothers and sister grew up in Ceres, California. Medrick, Walter's brother, was a talented tool and die maker who worked for Douglas Aircraft, making aircraft for the war effort in World War II. His brother, Joe, also served in the war as a navigator and bomber who flew from North Africa and Italy to Germany and Austria. Walter was a P-38 pilot assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group. He was training at the Santa Ana Army Air Base by February 22, 1943, and wrote many letters home: "I still hope I'll be classified for pilot training." By April 8, 1944, Perra was stationed in Kings Cliffe, England, and wrote many letters to his family about the kindness of the English people. From April 1944, through early June of that same year, Perra flew 14 missions.When D-Day arrived, Walter was assigned to support the fleet for what he referred to as "the Big Show." He flew five more sorties during the invasion, attacking German trains bringing supplies to the front lines. He became Missing in Action on June 15, 1944, while flying over Dreux. Hit by enemy fire, according to French eyewitnesses, he could have bailed out and saved himself, but chose to steer the aircraft away from the town of Les Corvées below him before trying to bail out at only 100 ft. above the ground. He was killed instantly.The civilians of Les Corvées and Dreux held a ceremony in 1944 to honor Walter, and buried him in secret, defying the Germans. He lay buried and listed as missing in action until a few months after the war ended and an American Graves Registration unit was able to discover his identity. A small monument to Perra, erected by the villagers of Les Corvées, is located near the original crash site.2nd Lt. Walter F. Perra is buried in Normandy American Cemetery, plot B, row 17, grave 24. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
Walter F. Perra and his four brothers and sister grew up in Ceres, California. Medrick, Walter's brother, was a talented tool and die maker who worked for Douglas Aircraft, making aircraft for the war effort in World War II. His brother, Joe, also served in the war as a navigator and bomber who flew from North Africa and Italy to Germany and Austria. Walter was a P-38 pilot assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group. He was training at the Santa Ana Army Air Base by February 22, 1943, and wrote many letters home: "I still hope I'll be classified for pilot training." By April 8, 1944, Perra was stationed in Kings Cliffe, England, and wrote many letters to his family about the kindness of the English people. From April 1944, through early June of that same year, Perra flew 14 missions.When D-Day arrived, Walter was assigned to support the fleet for what he referred to as "the Big Show." He flew five more sorties during the invasion, attacking German trains bringing supplies to the front lines. He became Missing in Action on June 15, 1944, while flying over Dreux. Hit by enemy fire, according to French eyewitnesses, he could have bailed out and saved himself, but chose to steer the aircraft away from the town of Les Corvées below him before trying to bail out at only 100 ft. above the ground. He was killed instantly.The civilians of Les Corvées and Dreux held a ceremony in 1944 to honor Walter, and buried him in secret, defying the Germans. He lay buried and listed as missing in action until a few months after the war ended and an American Graves Registration unit was able to discover his identity. A small monument to Perra, erected by the villagers of Les Corvées, is located near the original crash site.2nd Lt. Walter F. Perra is buried in Normandy American Cemetery, plot B, row 17, grave 24. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California.
Family Members
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