669th BS Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

2Lt. Walter Lauri Penttila

Pilot,  O-755407

Killed In Training - Jul 11, 1944

669th Bombardment Squadron (L)

 WWII-Medal

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Pilot Wings        Missing Man



  Born: 26-May-1921, Tulare County, California

Entered Military Service: Date: Jun-1942 From: California

Buried: Hillcrest Cemetery, Porterville, California, Plot: H-847-2

On-line Memorials:
National World War II Registry
Find-A-Grave


See also 2Lt Walter Lauri Penttila Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(FOIA request fulfilled by Government Information Specialist Bryan K. Jolly, Fort Knox, KY)
 Disclaimer: IDPF files document efforts to locate, identify, move, notify relatives and provide final resting for Soldier Dead,
often months or years after death, thus some pages may contain potentially disturbing or distressing information.
If you are sensitive, please consider whether to read this or not.
 Click Here for information on WWII IDPFs.



 Notes:
Nature of Accident: Plane crash landed in field after striking tree tops.

Cause of Accident: Attempted off-airdrome crash landing following left engine failure.

Description:
We lost two combat crew members. One, Lt Walter L Pentilla, of the 669th Bomb Sq (L), was killed on the 11th, while flying on a routine formation training mission. At 1,000 feet, one engine cut out on him. The plane dove into the ground. He died while being taken to the hospital. He was buried at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery, Cambridge, England.
(416th BG History 1944)

Once again misfortune tagged at our heels. On the 11th, while flying in a routine formation training flight, Lt. Walter L. Pentilla was killed. At 1,000 feet, one engine cut out. The plane dove into the ground. He died while being taken to the Hospital. Although he had been with the Squadron only a short time, those of us who had met him soon learned to like the stocky, blond-headed Pilot. He was our only loss during the month.
("669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History")

See also AAR 45-7-11-521



Photos and Documents
1930 US Census
1940 US Census
The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) 24 Jul 1944, Mon Page 12
Headstone
Rosters Of WW II Dead
WW II Army and Army Air Force Casualty List
National World War II Memorial Registry
 
 


Source information can be viewed at WWII Military Service Fatalities Sources