Weekly 150: Walter Sidney Butler, Jr.

After listening to Dr. Walter Butler speak this morning at Huntingdon’s Memorial Day event, I really wanted to know more about his uncle, Major Walter Sidney Butler, Jr. Within a few minutes of searching on-line for information, I found a treasure trove, and I am sharing it now in memory of Major Butler.

Walter Butler was the son of Walter Sidney Butler, Sr. and Mabel Glen Giles of Huntingdon, Tennessee.

After graduating from Huntingdon High School in 1938, he completed two years of college at Memphis State before enlisting in the Army Air Corps, April 26 1941 in Jackson, Mississippi.

Major Walter S. Butler, Jr. is mentioned in a newspaper article, having flown in the same 23rd Fighter Group and 76th Fighter Squadron that came under command of the famous WWII Flying Tigers All Volunteer Group (AVG) Ace Pilot Brigadier General David Lee “Tex” Hill after the AVG merged with the 14th Air Force under the command of General Claire “Lee” Chennault.

He is also commemorated on page 394 of The Aluminum Trail by Chick Marrs Quinn. The book lists and honors all of those that went missing and were lost “over The Hump” in the China-Burma-India Theatre during WWII.

Major Butler was leading a dive bombing and strafing mission in P-51D #44-11284 3 April 1945 on a course of 130 degrees. The visibility was four miles in haze. He and his wing aircraft had left a base at Laohwangping with a target at Yangtong. His plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on their last pass approximately one-half mile east of Erh Tong (Erh-Tong Airfield at Kweilin) headed west.

His wingman, 2nd Lt Harry Hill, Jr., ASN 0-705582, stated the following: “Butler was leading the flight. I was flying Butler’s wing. Butler called the flight and said that this was our last pass. I saw Butler heading west as I was making my pass in a SW direction. I pulled up from my pass and started rendezvous, calling Butler and asking his position. The last thing I heard, Butler called ‘I am hit.’ The remainder of the flight tried to call Butler but no radio contact was made. We rendezvoused, searched for his plane or parachute and sighted neither, it is believed he possibly went into the cloud layer and headed north.”

From the “Carroll County Democrat” and “Tennessee Republican” in April of 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Butler, Wednesday received a telegram from the war department that their son, Major Walter S. Butler, has been missing in India in the Burma area since April 3, 1945.

Major Butler may not have even been aware of his late promotion from Captain to Major. His last letter to his parents did not indicate he had been informed of his promotion.

Major Butler was one of those American boys who volunteered at the beginning of the war to fight the Japs in China. He was under the command of General Clair Chennault as one of the immortal Flying Tigers. These flyers had obsolete planes at the beginning. They lacked most of the things needed to successfully combat the Japs, but their skill and daring made up for any lack of mechanical aids.

With the arrival of more men and newer planes to China, the original Flying Tigers were sent back to the states--that is those who remained. Major Butler, then a Captain came home, wearing an old uniform because he had given all his good clothes to his buddies when he left China as clothing was difficult to get.

After remaining in the states for a time, Major Butler volunteered for active overseas duty again. He did not have to do this because he had served his allotted time, but this was his choosing.

He chose active service again where his experience, bravery and flying skill was needed by his country. Often decorated for bravery, he again chose to “seek out the enemies of his country.”

There might be a slim chance that Major Butler made a forced landing or parachuted to safety. We all hope such is the case.

Major Butler was declared dead 3 October 1945.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart.