Medal of Honor: Kenneth N. Walker (Air Mission) – World War II – New Britain – January 1943

Name: Kenneth N. Walker
Rank: Brigadier General
Organization: U.S. Army Air Corps
Command: V Bomber Command
Place: Rabaul, New Britain
Entered Service At: Colorado
Born: Cerrillos, New Mexico

Summary of Action

From September 1942 through January 1943, Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker served as Commander of V Bomber Command during one of the most critical phases of the Pacific air war. Rejecting the safety of rear headquarters, he repeatedly flew combat missions deep into enemy-held territory, believing that only firsthand experience could refine effective bombing tactics against enemy fighters and intense antiaircraft fire.

Through these missions, General Walker developed innovative and highly effective techniques for daylight bombing under heavy opposition—methods that significantly increased the striking power of U.S. air forces in the Southwest Pacific.

On 5 January 1943, General Walker personally led a daylight bombing attack against heavily defended Japanese shipping in the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain. Despite ferocious antiaircraft fire and determined attacks by enemy fighters, he pressed the assault to completion. The attack resulted in direct hits on nine enemy vessels, dealing a severe blow to Japanese naval strength.

During the action, General Walker’s aircraft was disabled by overwhelming enemy fighter opposition and was forced down. By leading from the front in the face of extreme danger, he set a powerful example of courage and leadership that shaped the conduct of air operations in the Pacific and inspired the men who followed him into battle.

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Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous leadership above and beyond the call of duty involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life. As commander of the 5th Bomber Command during the period from 5 September 1942, to 5 January 1943, Brig. Gen. Walker repeatedly accompanied his units on bombing missions deep into enemy-held territory. From the lessons personally gained under combat conditions, he developed a highly efficient technique for bombing when opposed by enemy fighter airplanes and by antiaircraft fire. On 5 January 1943, in the face of extremely heavy antiaircraft fire and determined opposition by enemy fighters, he led an effective daylight bombing attack against shipping in the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain, which resulted in direct hits on 9 enemy vessels. During this action his airplane was disabled and forced down by the attack of an overwhelming number of enemy fighters.