By Maj. William Carraway
Historian, Georgia Army National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard T-33s on the tarmac at Dobbins Air Force Base. Inset: Lt. Col. Walter Armistead in 1953. Georgia National Guard Archives. |
On Dec. 5, 1953, during a severe weather event, a T-33
piloted by Lt. Col. Walter Armistead slammed into the ground while on approach
to Travis Field. Armistead was killed on impact.
Armistead, 1942.
Walter Moore Armistead was born in Birmingham, Ala.
June 15, 1921 to John and Bessie Armistead. By 1934 the family had moved to
Atlanta and Armistead worked on William B. Hartsfield’s successful 1936
campaign for Mayor of Atlanta. Armistead graduated from North Fulton High
School in 1938 and was accepted into Georgia Tech. He enlisted in the U.S. Army
Signal Corps January 3, 1942 in Atlanta, Ga. and was stationed at MacDill Field
in Tampa, Fla. In August, he transferred to the Air Corps and the following
month was one of four hundred aviation cadets in his class of 3,500 selected to
go from pre-flight training at Kelley Field, Texas into an instructor’s course
designed to make them second lieutenants in five weeks.[1] He graduated from flight
training at Randolph Army Airfield in San Antonio Texas Dec. 13, 1942.[2] Armistead was assigned to
advanced flying school at Foster Field in Texas where he served as an
instructor for instrument and combat flying.[3] On April 24 he was assigned
to the 339th Fighter Group, 505th Fighter Squadron in
Europe. Armistead flew the P-51 Mustang out of Fowlmere, England conducting
bomber escort and strafing missions over occupied France. On June 17, 1944 was
assigned to strafe railroads and communication facilities in France. While
diving to make a gun run, the Mustang’s engine stalled out. Armistead bailed
out over Chateaudon. and landed in a farmer’s field. Captured, Armistead was
interrogated at the town’s police station then transported to Frankfort Germany
where he was interrogated again. He was interred at Stalag Luft 1
Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12, the same prison in which British actor Donald
Pleasance was held.
In 1945, the prison was liberated by the Soviet Army.
Rather than stay at the camp, Armistead and three other prisoners set out on
foot walking west in hopes of reaching U.S. lines. After two days of walking, a
Soviet Soldier presented them with a horse and buggy which the Soldiers drove
for a day before resuming their long walk eventually reaching British lines at
Weismar where they received transportation to London.[4]
1st Lt. Walter Armistead's P-51 Mustang in England in 1942. http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/2272 |
Armistead reported to a replacement depot intent on
deployment to the Pacific; however, the war ended before he was assigned to a
new unit.
On August 25, 1946, Armistead was commissioned a
captain in the newly organized Georgia Air National Guard. He was one of the
first 12 officers commissioned into the air units of the Ga. NG along with
future generals Bernard Davey and Joel B. Paris.[5] He was called to active
service with the 158th Fighter Squadron in 1950 and served in Korea,
returning to the United States the following year.
By 1953, Lt. Col. Armistead was assigned as commander
of the permanent field training detachment at Travis Airfield in Savannah[6] while concurrently serving
as director of operations for the 116th Fighter Bomber Wing.[7] On the evening of December
5, 1953 he was piloting a Ga. ANG T-33 on approach to Travis Field. Armistead made
routine contact with the tower and despite the severe weather and instrument
flight conditions there was no indication of any trouble and Armistead, a
veteran of more than 3,000 flight hours was skilled instrument pilot. While
approaching Savannah from the southeast Armistead’s aircraft slammed into
Wassah Island, a marshy sea island. More than a day would pass before
responders reached the crash site.
Armistead was buried with full military honors in Oak
Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Ala. Among his pallbearers were fellow Ga. ANG
pilots Bernard Davey, Charles Thompson and Phil Coleman.[8] In 1955 the City of
Savannah dedicated Armistead Avenue in his honor.[9]
[1]
“Atlantan Chosen for Flight Training.” Atlanta Constitution. Sept. 11,
1942, 18.
[2]
“Flying Schools Will Graduate 52 Georgians Today.” Atlanta Constitution.
Dec. 13, 1942, 22.
[3]
“Five Georgians War Casualties.” Atlanta Constitution. June 29, 1944, 5.
[4]
“Armistead Home.” Atlanta Constitution. July 15, 1945, 10.
[5]
“Dozen Atlantans Flying Officers.” Atlanta Constitution. August 25,
1946, 2.
[6]
“Air National Guard Camp Dates Set at Travis 26 July-9 August. The Georgia
Guardsman. February, 1953, 4.
[7]
“Wing Pre-Training Conference Reveals ANG Defense Mission.” Georgia National
Guard. May June 1953,4.
[8]
“Col. W. R. Armistead.” Birmingham News. Dec. 7, 1953, 7.
[9]
“Posthumous Honors Bestowed ANG Pilots by City of Savannah in Naming of
Streets.” The Georgia Guardsman. March April May 1955, 16.
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