Walter E. Whitehouse
NAME: Walter E. Whitehouse
ASN: 33603475
PLACE OF BIRTH: Moosic, PA
DATE OF BIRTH:
DATES OF SERVICE: 27 Dec 1943 to 31 Aug 1968
UNIT ASSIGNED:
306th Fighter Control Squadron (1944 - 1945)
433rd Fighter Control Squadron (1945)
10th Air Sea Rescue (Mar 1949 - 1950 Alaska)
54th Troop Carrier (1950 - 1951 Alaska) ?
1504th Air Transport Squadron (C-54 Japan and Korea 1951 - 1953)
354th Field Maintenance Squadron (1952)
355th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1968)
CAMPAIGNS: Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes, Rhineland, Air Offensive Europe, Korea, Vietnam
AWARDS:
Air Force Commendation Medal
*Good Conduct Medal (23 Jul 44 - 22 Jul 45) DD214, 433rd FCS, 28 Nov 45, with one Silver loop (10 Sep 59 - 09 Sep 62) SOG-39, 07 Nov 62, 1502ATW
*AF Good Conduct Medal (10 Sep 62 - 09 Sep 65) SOG-32, 06 Dec 65, 354th TFWg
American Defense Service Medal
*American Campaign Medal
*EAME Campaign Medal with four Bronze Campaign Star Devices
*World War II Victory Medal
*Army of Occupation Medal
Medal for Humane Action
*National Defense Service Medal
*Korean Service Medal
*Vietnam Service Medal
*Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) with four oak leaf clusters (5 Jan 64)
*Air Force NCO Academy Graduate Ribbon (AFNCOAR)
*UN Service Medal
UN Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
*Presidential Unit Citation
*Meritorious Unit Award (WWII)
*Belgian Fourragere (07 Jul 45) AG WAR WX 32845 15 Jul 45
*Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon(SAEMR)
*Overseas Service Bars - Three (WWII Foreign Service 1 year 8 months 16 days)
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
Was working as an apprentice aircraft mechanic for a Civilian Pilot Training program at a nearby airport.
13 Apr 1943 - Inducted into service
20 Apr 1943 - Entry into active service Air Corps at New Cumberland, PA, Military Occupation Guard Patrolman 522. Qualified M1 Carbine
Reported to Hq BTC #4 AAFTTC, Miami Beach, Fla for Basic Training
23 Aug 1943 - SO #235, Hq BTC #4 AAFTTC, Miami Beach, Fla, dated 23 Aug 1943, directed personnel to report to Keesler Field, Miss.
26 Aug 1943 - Reported to Keesler Field, Miss
27 Aug 1943 - SO #239, 27 Aug 1943, Hq Tech Sch and Basic Tng Cen, AAFETTC, Keesler Fld, Miss. para. 22. Having rptd this sta 26 Aug 1943, in compliance with par 72, SO #235, Hq BTC #4 AAFTTC, Miami Beach, Fla, dated 23 Aug 1943, the following EM (atchd in gr of Pfc) are atchd to 395th Tech Sch Sq, for purpose of attending Ap Mechs Sch: Whitehouse, Walter E. 33603475
01 Sep 1943 - Hq. Technical School and Basic Training Center, Army Air Forces Eastern Technical Training Command, Keesler Field, Miss., 01 Sep 1943 Special Order No. 244 para. 45 The following EM stus Ap Mechs Sch are reld fr atchd to orgns indicated and are atchd to 396th Tech Sch Sq for the purpose of attending Ap Mechs Sch: Reld fr atchd 395th Tech Sch Sq Whitehouse, Walter E 33603475
23 Sep 1943 - Morning Report Keesler Field, Miss. 396th Technical School Squadron. A.C. ATCHD UNASGD 33603475 Whitehouse Pfc 03 rd to gr of Pvt effective 22 Sep 43
24 Sep 43 - SO #267, Hq Tech Sch and Basic Tng Cen, AAFETTC, Keesler Fld, Miss. para. 7. Pfc (521) Walter E. Whitehouse, 33603475, ACU, is reld of dy as stu, Ap Mechs Sch, this sta, is reld fr atchd 396th Tech Sch Sq, is asgd to 306th Ftr Contl Sq, Bradley Fld, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and WP that sta rping upon arrival to the CO thereof for asgmt and dy. Pursuant to auth contained in Ltr, WD, Hq AAF, Washington, D.C., dated 24 Mar 1943, Pfc Whitehouse, is hereby reduced to the gr of Pvt. The TO will furn necessary T. IGF rat in kind, six (6) meals for one (1) EM will be furn under the provisions of par 2, AR 30-2215. Two (2) add meals for one (1) EM, to be used only in case of unavoidable delay enroute, will be furn. (Ch 4, AR 30-2215, 26 Apr 1943) TDN. 1-5250 P 431-02 A 0425-24. (Auth: 2nd Ind, Hq AAFETTC, Sedgefield, Greensboro, N.C., 14 Sept 1943, file G-1 201-Whitehouse, Walter E. (Enl)).
25 Sep 1943 - Morning Report Keesler Field Miss. 396th Technical School Squadron. A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse Pvt. trfd to 306th FTR Contl Sq Bradley Fld Windsor Locks, Conn.
Pfc. Whitehouse was informed that his mother had requested that he and his twin brother Pvt. Wallace Whitehouse serve together. Pvt. Wallace Whitehouse was already in the 306th Fighter Control Squadron. Their mothers request was approved by the War Department so Pfc. Walter Whitehouse was transfered to the 306th FCS. Apparently, Pfc. Whitehouse was not informed that he was also demoted prior to transfer due to not completing training as Ap Mechanic. So when he reported to the 306th FCS he was told to remove the rank. He thought the 306th FCS demoted him but the records show that it was done before transfer. He was very upset at his mother and at the Army for approving the request and at the 306th FCS for the demotion. Working on airplanes was his dream job. In hindsight his mother put both of them in harms way due to types of missions the 306th FCS would perform.
27 Sep 1943 - Morning Report. Bradley Field, Conn. 306th Fighter Control Squadron A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse, Walter E. (521) Pvt. Above EM Asgd and JD orgn per SO #267 Par 7 Dtd 24 Sep 1943
22 Nov 1943 - Morning Report. Bradley Field, Conn. 306th Fighter Control Squadron A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse, Walter E. (522) Pvt. Above EM fr dy to sk in sta hosp
26 Nov 1943 - Morning Report. Bradley Field, Conn. 306th Fighter Control Squadron A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse, Walter E. (522) Pvt. Above EM to dy fr sk in Sta Hosp
09 Dec 1943 - Morning Report. Bradley Field, Conn. 306th Fighter Control Squadron A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse, Walter E. (522) Pvt. dy to fur 3 days.
12 Dec 1943 - Morning Report. Bradley Field, Conn. 306th Fighter Control Squadron A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse, Walter E. (522) Pvt. fur to dy 3 days.
27 Dec 1943 - TMSD begins
04 Jan 1944 - Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) begins
18 Jan 1944 - Departed the U.S.
30 Jan 1944 - Arrived in Scotland
04 Feb 1944 - Morning Report. Q 0289. 306th Fighter Control Squadron A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse, Walter E. Pvt. Above EM appointed to the grade of Pfc per Orders No. 1, 306th Ftr Contl Sq. dtd 1 Feb 44
Training in England included crawling under live machine gun fire, demolitions, booby traps, hatchet and knife throwing among other things
Lt. 'Bullet' Benson was his Platoon Leader
13 Mar 1944 - Smallpox vaccine
06 Jun 1944 - Morning Report. Ashford, Kent, 306th Fighter Control Squadron A.C. 33603475 Whitehouse, Walter E. (522) Pfc. Above EM MOS changed fr 521 to 522
12 Jun 1944 - Landed at Omaha Beach six days after the invasion
Was in Maastricht, Holland attending Enemy Weapons School
Pvt. Zorn was pulling guard in Maastricht Holland at a uncompleted Hospital, the Maj. put out the order that no one was to leave without at least a side arm. The Maj. later attempted to leave ? (Missing rest of the story)
Was in Arlon, Belgium
27 Feb 1945 - Typhoid and Tetanus Shot
First night in Germany they spent in a German flak tower while on guard duty they kept hearing rustling in the distance. Their orders were the shout halt and if no one responded they were to fire in that direction. In the morning they discovered that it was the very large Jack Rabbits that had been making the noise all night. What they also did not know was that there was also an ammo dump in the same general direction they had been firing
Was in Hanover, Germany when they were checking out a German Halftrack and door slammed on his hand. He also found a photo of German troops in a hunting lodge in the area
28 Jun 1945 - Ty Shot
07 Jul 1945 - Headquarters XXIX Tactical Air Command, 9th AAF awarded the Belgian Fourragere for twice cited in orders, Belgian Army Decision No. 717. For Meritorious service in Belgium from 01 October 1944 to 15 January 1945 in connection with military operations against the enemy
26 Sep 1945 - Departed from Camp 20 Grand which was one of many cigarette camps outside of Cherbourg, France in which Soldiers staged for the return trip home
30 Sep 1945 - Arrived U.S.
28 Nov 1945 - Pfc. Walter E. Whitehouse, 433rd Fighter Control Squadron, Honorably Discharged at ORD Greensboro, NC with 2 years, 7 months, 9 days of service this period. HOR: 77 Decatur St. Binghamton, NY
00 Sep 45 to 00 Sep 47 - Worked as Airplane and Engine Mechanic at Richland Aviation, Cleveland, OH
30 Jan 1946 - Issued Pistol Carry Permit from the State of New York, Lugar Pistol
13 Feb 1946 - Married Shirley Mae Berger who he had met during the war
18 Feb 1946 - Flu Shot
18 Feb 1946 - Renlisted (2nd) into the Army Air Forces for three years, entered service at Ft Monmouth, NJ
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 33603475 | 33603475 |
| NAME | WHITEHOUSE#WALTER#E##### | WHITEHOUSE#WALTER#E##### |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | #3 | Undefined Code |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 007 | Undefined Code |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 2305 | BINGHAMTON NEW YORK |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 18 | 18 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 02 | 02 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 46 | 46 |
| GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION | P+C# | Undefined Code |
| GRADE: CODE | # | Undefined Code |
| BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION | AC# | Air Corps |
| BRANCH: CODE | 20 | Air Corps |
| FIELD USE AS DESIRED | # | # |
| TERM OF ENLISTMENT | 3 | Enlistment for Hawaiian Department |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | S | Undefined Code |
| NATIVITY | 32 | PENNSYLVANIA |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 24 | 24 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 1 | 1 year of high school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 000 | Undefined Code |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 1 | Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men) |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 0683 | 0683 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 1.200 | 1.200 |
29 May 1946 - Reported to Keesler Field, MS to attend Airplane and Engine Mechanic Primary (76 day Course)
17 Sep 1946 - Graduated from Airplane and Engine Mechanic Primary
00 Oct 1946 - Smallpox and Typhoid Shot
1947 - Graduated Airframe and Engine Course AFSC 747
14 Mar 1947 - Cpl Walter E. Whitehouse, 3704th AAF Base Unit, Honorably Discharged Keesler Field, Miss. HOR: 77 Decatur St. Binghamton, NY. Completed 1 year and 25 days of service for this period. Prior service 2 years 7 months 9 days
08 Sep 1947 - Issued CAA Airman Certificate - Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
09 Sep 1947 - Cpl. Walter E. Whitehouse, Reenlisted (3rd) for three years in Cleveland, OH
Assigned to school as an instructor and branch director then transferred to Selfridge Field, Mich
Crew Chief on AT-6 at Selfridge Field
07 Apr 1948 - Promoted to Sergeant
1948 - Mike was born
30 Nov 1948 - Graduated Aircraft Electrical Mechanics Course AFSC 747C
1949 - Graduated Aircraft Mechanic Course AFSC 43151
1949 - Back to Selfridge Field
00 Mar 1949 - Transferred to Anchorage, Alaska 10th Air Sea Rescue working as a mechanic on C-47s and B-17s
01 Jun 1949 - Shirley Whitehouse moved up to Alaska and joined Walter 3 months after Walter had left for Alaska
27 Mar 1950 - Graduated Mechanics Familiarization Course C-54 Airplane C-54-4 MTD, Elmendorf AFB, AK
00 Jul 1950 - Transferred from 10th Air Sea Rescue to the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron to become a Flight Engineer on C-54s. The 54th Troop Carrier Squadron was activated at Elmendorf, AFB Alaska 20 Sep 1949 under the Alaskan Air Command and attached to the 57th Fighter Wing.
08 Sep 1950 - Sgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, 2472nd AF Reserve Training Center, US Naval Air Station, Olathe, KS, Honorably Discharged, Completed 3 years 0 months 0 days this period of service. Previously completed 3 years 8 months 4 days. Total service 6 years 8 months 4 days. Foreign Service (WWII) 1 year 1 month 29 days
09 Sep 1950 - Sgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, 2472nd AF Reserve Training Center, US Naval Air Station, Olathe, KS, reenlists (4th) for six years
12 Nov 1950 - Promoted to Staff Sergeant
Had one flight in which the nose gear would not go down and they performed a nose gear up landing.
01 Jan 1951 the 54th TCS was under 5039th Air Transport Group
29 Apr 1951 - Reported to Japan
Transferred to Japan assigned to the 1504th Air Transport Squadron and worked as a Flight Engineer on C-54s performing Air Evacuation Flights out of Korea. They would fly to Korea pick up wounded and fly them to Japan. In Japan they would rest while their aircraft was loaded with patients to be flown to Hawaii and another crew would take them. When the next aircraft arrived from Korea the wounded were off loaded and patients were loaded and they would fly the leg to Hawaii while the crew that had just landed rested. He also participated in Operation Little Switch in which repatriated Americans from the Korean War were flown to Japan http://www.nj.gov/military/korea/factsheets/opswitch.html
1952 - 354th Field Maintenance Squadron
01 Aug 1952 - Promoted to Technical Sergeant
15 Sep 1953 - Returned to the US from Japan
1954 - NCO Academy Course (MATS)
18 Jun 1954 - MATS Award for Safety in Military Aviation
24 Sep 1954 - Completed GED
19 Apr to 16 Jun 1955 - Flight Mechanic, C-118 Type Aircraft, 1707th Student Sq, PBAFB, FL
1956 - Flight Mechanic Ground Only Course
10 Sep 1956 - TSgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, Reenlisted (4th) for six years at Newark, NJ. HOR: 4613 Clark Ave, Cleveland (Cuyahoga) Ohio
03 Oct to 10 Dec 1956 - Flight Mechanic, C-118 Type Aircraft (Ground School Only), 1707th Student Sq PBAFB, FL
28 Nov 1956 - Issued Temporary CAA Airman's Certificate 1000247 - Private Pilot Airplane Single Engine Land to supersede Airman Certificate dated 08 Sep 1947. HOR: 823 37th St. West Palm Beach, FL
02 Sep to 26 Dec 1957 - Flight Engineer Technician, AFSC 43174, Chanute AFB, IL
04 Feb to 02 Apr 1958 - Flight Engineer, C-124 Aircraft at 1709th Tech Tng Sq, PBAFB, FL
22 Apr to 23 Apr 1958 - Engine Analyzer, C-124 Type Aircraft conducted by C-121C Ground School at Charleston AFB, SC
10 Apr to 17 Apr 1959 - Graduated Aircrew Refresher Transition Course (C-124C and A) AFF-OFF 1045-E-1 (40 HOURS), C124-4 Mobile Training Detachment (ATC), Donaldson AFB, South Carolina
15 Sep 1960 - Special Order D361 awards AFSC T43171A Aircraft Maintenance Technician
29 Sep 1961 - Reported to Hawaii (considered foreign service at the time)
06 Jan to 07 Mar 1962 - Completed Aircraft Maintenance Technician C/KC-135 Course Number AMF 43171E-5 (120/150 HOURS) at the 817C Mobile Training Detachment (ATC), Travis AFB, CA
09 Sep 1962 - TSgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, HQ 1502nd ATW (MATS), Honorably Discharged, Hickam AFB, Honolulu, Hawaii. Completed 6 years 0 months 0 days of service this period. Previously completed 12 years 8 months 13 days. Total active service 18 years 8 months 6 days. Foreign service 11 months 11 days this period
10 Sep 1962 - TSgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, reenlisted (5th) at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. HOR: 4613 Clark Avenue, Cleveland (Cuyahoga) Ohio (Previously completed a total of 18 years 98 months 15 days of service)
27 Jun 1963 - Fundamentals of IBM, Fort Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii
07 Oct 1963 - IBM 650 Digital Computer Programming, Fort Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii
1963 - IBM 1401 Digital Computer Programming, Fort Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii
1963 - Management Course for AF Sup.
04 Feb 1964 - AFFm1098, 1502ATW Awards AFSC 43171A Aircraft Maintenance Technician
1965 - Maintenance Management and Doctrine Course for AF Supervisors
1965 - OCS, Extension Course Institute
30 Jun 1965 - Returned to the US from Hawaii
09 Sep 1965 - TSgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, 354th Field Maint Squadron (TAC), Honorably Discharged at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, with 3 years 00 months 00 days of service this period. Total active service of 21 years 08 months 15 days of service. Foreign Service 2 years 9 months 21 days for this period. HOR: Rt#6 Foxhollow Road, Binghamton (Chenango), New York
10 Sep 1965 - Reenlisted (6th), Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, HOR: Route 6, Foxhollow Rd, Binghamton, Chanango, NY 13904
1967 Aircraft Maintenance Scheduler Course
1968 - Deployed to Phu Cat, Vietnam with the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-100s)
31 Aug 1968 - TSgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, 354th Field Maintenance Sq (TAC), Honorably Discharged, Retired from the US Air Force, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, Completed 2 years 11 months 22 days of service this period. Previous service 21 years 8 months 12 days. Total active service 24 years 7 months 27 days. Foreign Service 7 months 5 days (Vietnam Service)
By the end of his career he had logged 6,500 hours as a Flight Engineer
01 Sep 1968 - Retired from Active Duty
03 Jan 1974 - TSgt. Walter E. Whitehouse, Honorably Discharged form the US Air Force Retired Reserves. HOR: 19430 SW 117th CT, Miami, FL 33157
15 Dec 1978 - Completed Beechcraft King Air 200 Maintenance Course
29 Jun 1979 - Completed Flight Safety International Citation II Maintenance Initial Course
19 Feb 1986 - Attended FAA Inspection Authorization Refresher Course in Jacksonville, FL
Pvt. Walter Whitehouse and friend Pvt. Kenny Jones pose in a bayonet stance with M1903 rifles)
(Pvt. Whitehouse holding a MG42 while attending the Enemy Weapons Course in Maastricht, Holland in 1944. The course was held at the local school.)
(Unknown German unit, photo found in hunting lodge near Hanover, Germany)
OKTOB 1935 MARZ 1936
NUR NICHT WEICH WERDEN - Do not become soft (or Never Yeild)
ARBEITSDIENST - Work Served EHRENDIENST - Honor Served
BRUN V.KOLN
REICHSARBEITSDIENST - Relm Work Served ABT.9z44
(Close up of sign for the above picture)
(Captured photo of unknown Wehrmacht unit. Photo was found in a hunting lodge near Hanover, Germany. My guess is it is a German Infantry Company in the early war years. There are two officers standing center with the majority of the NCOs in the chairs on the second row. Also note the large number of soldiers wearing the schutzen badge draped on their right shoulders. The Soldiers are all wearing their dress uniforms identified by the extra buttons on the tunic and braid on the cuff. These uniforms would have become scare as the war progressed and rationing was necessary.)
(This is the info on the back of the photo shown above which may provide additional clues as to the unit and when the photo was taken. The writing in the top right corner could be the date or the unit designation)
(Enemy insignia found near Hanover, Germany)
(Pvt. Walter and Shirley Whitehouse at the end of WWII)
(Walter Whitehouse at Hamilton Field awaiting transportation to Alaska 1949)
(Aircraft is a B-17 'Dumbo' assigned to the 10th Air Sea Rescue in Alaska in 1950)
(Nose art of the above B-17 'Dumbo' assigned to the 10th Air Sea Rescue in Alaska)
(Shirley Whitehouse with daughter Shirley V. Whitehouse in front of their base housing in Anchorage, Alaska in 1950)
(Walter, Shirley, daughter Shirley, and son Michael)
(Leaving for McGuire AFB, NJ)
(Flight Engineers graduation photo 26 December 1957. The aircraft in the background is the KB-50 which was a B-29 converted to perform air refueling and had better engines. Notice the air scoop under the engine nacelle.)
(TSgt. Walter Whitehouse, USAF accepts promotion to 2nd Lt. in Civil Air Patrol. First time in 10 years for an active duty enlisted airmen to be authorized be an officer in CAP.)
(Shirley, Michael, Shirley, Walter Hawaii 1961)
(I do not know what is going on in this picture)
(First enlisted in Air Force to go before and pass certification board for Flight Engineer Flight Examiner)
(TSgt. Walter and Shirley Whitehouse (center with Belgian Fordeguerre) in the receiving line at the first Military Air Transport Service (MATS) Ball)
(1st Lt. Neil Hunter, Aero Club Instructor and TSgt. Walter Whitehouse Aero Club Maintenance Officer)
(Aeronca Champ project)
(Aeronca Champ project completed)
(355th TFS deploys to Phu Cat, Vietnam 1968)
(Newspaper clipping about deployment of unit to Phu Cat, Vietnam in 1968)
(TSgt. Walter Whitehouse poses with F-100 in Phu Cat, Vietnam where he deployed with the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) and served as the Maintenance Scheduler.)
(TSgt. Walter Whitehouse in Phu Cat, Vietnam 1968)
(TSgt. Walter Whitehouse and Butch)
(Butch)
(Mech Infantry in Vietnam)
(Capt. Walter Whitehouse, CAP promotes 1st Lt. Shirley Whitehouse, CAP to Capt.)
(Walter, Shirley, daughter Shirley, and son Michael)
(ALL IMAGES AND INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS PROPERTY OF THE OWNER/FAMILY AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PLEASE CONTACT THE WEBMASTER AT THE E-MAIL BELOW)
©2006 to Present - 509thgeronimo.org. All Rights Reserved.