Name:
Walter W. Kovalenko
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
Unit:
791st Bomber Squadron, 467th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-04-22
State:
Cemetery:
Beverly National Cemetery, New Jersey
Plot:
D
Row:
Grave:
1014
Decoration:
Comments:
Walter W. Kovalenko was born on December 20, 1919 in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. He served as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator/Mechanic/Gunner in the 791st Bomber Squadron, 467th Bomber Group, Heavy on B24 #42-52445 aircraft during World War II. On April 22, 1944 while returning from bombing the railway marshalling yards at Hamm (Germany), the craft was shot at from the rear by ME-410 intruder aircraft of Kampfgeschwader 51, which had entered the landing pattern of returning aircraft. Seven men were killed (including TSGT Kovalenko) and 3 men bailed out safely. TSGT Kovalenko died at the age of 24 is now buried in the Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA.