Ward Chadbourne Walker was born on March 19, 1918, in Massachusetts. He was the husband of Hazel Lee Walker. He served in the 513th Bomber Squadron, 376th Bomber Group, as a First Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-24D Liberator #42-40658 during World War II.

On December 28, 1943, the aircraft was lost during combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II while flying from San Pancrazio Airfield, Italy, on a mission to destroy the marshalling yards at Vicenza. During the attack, the bomber was badly damaged after being engaged by a German Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighter and was ultimately shot down near Monselice in the province of Padua. The aircraft was destroyed in the encounter, resulting in the deaths of four crew members, while the remaining airmen survived the loss.

1Lt Walker was captured by enemy forces, taken prisoner of war, and held at Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia. He died on May 13, 1994, and is now buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Wellfleet, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://aviation-safety.net/