Konantz Walter J Lt

(Frank Birtciel)

1/Lt. Walter J. Konantz

338th FS - 02 August 1944 - 29 March 1945

Assigned Aircraft	P-51D CL-P 44-14278 "Saturday Night" P-51D CL-P 44-72296 "Saturday Night" (55th FGA)
Mission History	Flew 64 missions, 294:40 hours
Mission List	Not Known
Air Scores	3-0-0
Ground Scores	1-0
Score Detail	11 September 1944 Me-109 destroyed (air) S/Meiningen 06 January 1945 Ju-88 destroyed (ground) Giebelstadt 13 January 1945 Me-262 destroyed (air) Giebelstadt 29 January 1945 Me-109 destroyed (air) NE Oldenburg
Notes	Walt's dog, Lassie, became the 338th Fighter Squadron mascot. (Nb. Photo opens in new window. Close new window to return to this page) ASN - 0-824655 02 August 1944 - Joined the 338th Fighter Squadron 15 September 1944 - Awarded the Air Medal 12 October 1944 - Awarded the 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal 16 October 1944 - Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant 23 October 1944 - Awarded the 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal 13 January 1945 - Became first 55th FG pilot to shoot down an Me 262 Jet 15 January 1945 - Awarded 5th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal 02 February 1945 - Awarded 6th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal 17 February 1945 - Awarded 7th Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal 29 March 1945 - Completed Tour of Duty
Memories
Additional Photos	Publicity photo of (L-R) Walt Konantz and brother Harold Konantz (55th FGA) Another publicity shot of the Konantz brothers, with Walt's dog, Lassie (L-R) Walt and brother Harold (55th FGA) Lt. Walter J. Konantz (Frank Birtciel) Lt. Walter Konantz and Lassie in front of Walt's P-51D "Saturday Night" (R. Abbey) Lt. Walter Konantz flying the Clobber College's War Weary P-51C "Old Smooth Mouth". (N. Howland) Lt. Walter J. Konantz and Lassie. Lassie has a wheel fitted to his broken leg, which was broken when he was hit by a Jeep. (55th FGA) NB. Photos open in new window. Close window to return to this page.