Walter Vernon Gresham jr.

Born 6 May 1921 in Portsmouth, Virginia
Graduated from Wilson High School in 1939
Attended Virginia Military Institute 1939 – 1940
Graduated from Senior Air Force Management School in 1940
Graduated from Air Command and Staff College in 1951
Graduated from Industrial College of the Armed Forces 1963
Married to the former Mary Chandler Robertson of Portsmouth, VA
They had two children; John Robertson Gresham, born 1 January 1950
& Walter V. Gresham III, born 28 May 1953

He joined the Army Air Corps in 1942
He was a fighter Squadron Commander in the European Theatre
358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group
During World War II he flew 111 combat sorties and
rose from Second Lieutenant to Major before he turned 24
Decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
The Air Medal with 13 Clusters &
The Croix de Guerre (From the French Goverment)

After WW2, he remained in the service as a career officer and held many commands around the world

Rated as a “Command Pilot,” Gresham posted over 4,000 flying hours in an assortment of aircraft from P-47 Thunderbolts & P-51 Mustangs, to a variety of supersonic fighters and B-52 bombers

Col. Gresham retired in April 1972 after 30 years of outstanding service

After retirement, Mr. Gresham resided in Nags Head, North Carolina and Jensen Beach, Florida

Walter Gresham passed away from cancer in February of 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife by his side. He is survived by his wife, two sons and four grand children; Corey, Catherine, Hunter and Lindsey Gresham

  2 March 1944
16 March 1944
  5 April 1944

11 April 1944


  4 May 1944

15 Aug 1944

10 April 1945
17 April 1945

destroyed *
destroyed
damaged &
destroyed OTG **
destroyed [a]
destroyed [b]
destroyed [c]
probably destroyed
damaged ***
destroyed ****

damaged
destroyed OTG &
damaged OTG

* Egon Mayer KIA by Walt Gresham - see combat report for 2 March below.

It is said that the actual guncam footage from this kill was used at the end of the movie "12 O'clock High", the shot where the left wing of the FW190 comes off.

** Same FW44 trainer subsequently shot down by F/O Dudley - see combat report for 5 April below

[a] shared with Lt. Fussell
[b] shared with Lt. Fussell, Lt. Martyn & F/O Dudley
[c] shared with Lt. Fussell, Lt. Martyn & F/O Dudley

*** See the combat report for 4 May below (may have been confirmed for kill 5)

**** See the combat report for 15 August below

358TH FIGHTER SQUADRON 355TH FIGHTER GROUP
March 2, 1944
MISSION SUMMERY REPORT

A. 358th Fighter Squadron. Major Raymond B. Myers leading,
B. 18    UP: 1252    DOWN: 1545
C. 2 (1 belly tank, 1 oxygen).
D. Ramrod, provided withdrawal support 1st and 2nd ATF's. F.O. #257.
E. – G. Nil
H. 7-0-1

One Me 109 destroyed, Major Myers
One Me 109 destroyed, Lt. Hoffman
One Me 109 destroyed, Lt. Blair
One FW 190 destroyed, Lt. Gresham (Egon Mayer - KIA)
One FW 190 destroyed, F/O Dudley - shared with Lt. Fussell
One Me 109 destroyed and One Me 109 damaged, F/O McGinty (shared with either Major Myers or Lt. Blair)

Squadron made L/F on course at 26,000' at 1342 and made R/V at Charleroi flying at 27,000' at 1352. Squadron was assigned to cover rear box of B-24's but since they could  not be located permission was asked of group leader to go back into e/t along bomber course to find them.   Squadron flew back and SE of Liege spotted about 8-10 e/a. 3 e/a believed to be 109's were diving for the clouds around 1352. We were at 25,000' and they were at 15,000' and heading away from the bombers and down in a northerly direction. 3 Me 109's with belly tanks (F or G) in a poor V formation were first spotted SE of Liege flying at 23,000' to our 23,000'. Trooptrain Red and Yellow Flights chased them for app. 5 min, to app. 25 mi. N of Liege. They were flying without attempting to take evasive action and no maneuvers to get away. Bounce resulted in 3 Me 109's destroyed with F/O McGinty sharing a destroyed with either Maj. Myers or Lt. Blair. F/O McGinty also claimed a damaged.

2 FW 190s flying abreast and staggered, similar to our battle formation, heading north and diving from 20,000 to 15,000' were seen at 1410. They were bounced by Trooptrain Green Flight from 25,000' resulting in one destroyed for Lt. Gresham and one shared by F/O Dudley and Lt. Fussell. e/a tried violent evasive action and split S-ing when they saw bounce coming. B-24's were never seen by Trooptrain. Squadron made L/F out over Blankenbergh at 19,000'.

1 B-17 probably ditched half way across the channel. Sighted by Trooptrain Yellow 2 who called him in to yellow leader. Message never received because of poor reception. Bombers were flying at 18,000', straggler left formation and went down towards the water in a normal glide. There were no fighter planes in the vicinity and no chutes or flares visible from bomber. After reporting straggler, Yellow 2 looked back and bomber had disappeared. Bomber probably ditched 90 or 95 degrees from here.

5 e/a were destroyed resulting in claims of 7-0-1.

HAROLD H. MARSHALL 1st Lt. AC
Sqdn. Intelligence O.