Family, community say farewell to decorated WWII Veteran

  • Published
  • By Maj. Brooke Cortez
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  A World War II decorated veteran passed away last Sunday evening, and as his family prepared to take him to the funeral home, two F-16 "Mako" jets from the 482nd Fighter Wing roared over his house Monday.

While the jets were on approach back to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, and the flight path over the house was not planned, Capt. Walter Wyatt's family was able to smile at the memory of his service during WWII.

"We all looked at each other and smiled at the timing of those jets as they thundered over," said Homestead Police Department Officer Mark Pasquarella. "He was a good friend of mine and told many stories of his service as a pilot. He flew Mustangs and P-40s, and spent a fair amount of time hiding in the mountains of China after World War II ended."

Wyatt was an instrumental figure in restoring the base as well as community planning in Homestead. In 1953, he came to the then Homestead Air Force Base to help restore it by serving as the chief engineer for 39 years, retiring at 64. He also served on the City of Homestead Planning and Zoning Board from 1967 to 1973 and Homestead Hospital Board from 1975 to 1976.

On Monday, "Mako" jets were on their way back to the base after a routine training mission, and according to Lt. Col. Thomas Kilroy, 93rd Fighter Squadron Assistant Director of Operations, the jets were low on gas so they took the shortest possible route to the base.

Upon learning of the families' reaction to the two jets roaring over that day, Kilroy was stunned to learn that it was Wyatt who had inspired him to become a fighter pilot as a child.

"Walt Wyatt was my neighbor growing up in Homestead," he said. "I lived two doors down from him and remember talking to him about his experience flying P-51Bs in China during WWII. I remember him building aircraft in his garage, and my brother flew Cessna's for his aviation business from Homestead General. I'd say he had some impact on my desire to be a fighter pilot."

Prior to passing away, Wyatt documented his aviation experiences, in particular his experience in China during WWII.

He served as a U.S. Army Air Forces fighter pilot in the 16th Fighter Squadron, which in 1943 was assigned to the 14th Air Force. On July 4, 1944, he began his tour of duty and was one of the first Flying Tigers in China. As part of the Flying Tigers, Wyatt helped conduct fighter and bomber operations over Japanese occupied Chinese territory, and the eastern third of mainland China and Formosa.

On July 27, 1945 after demolition bombing in Sanya Bay, on the very south tip of Hainan, Wyatt's P-51 Mustang caught a round to the aft fuselage, causing damage so severe he could only turn the disabled aircraft to the right. Wyatt was able to bail out around 300 feet above impact, hitting the ground hard and narrowly missing the fiery wreckage.

During his time surviving while being tracked by Japanese soldiers, Wyatt trekked through unfamiliar territory despite growing exhaustion from malnutrition held at bay by an all-weather chocolate bar. After days of hiking through rice paddies and avoiding Japanese soldiers, Wyatt made his way into a basha (a native thatched lean-to) to stay dry.

This is when he met two Chinese farmers - he presented his Chinese-American flag to them, and they grabbed him, guiding him to safety and offering food. They built him his own 'basha' lean-to and told him they'd be back in two days; however, Wyatt preferred to climb a tree and hid for two days viewing Japanese harvesting rice in the fields below him.

The farmers guided him to another Chinese rescuer, who led him to the South China Sea.

Wyatt wrote in his memoir, "By the moon you could tell it was beautiful and on the hard packed beach sand, we could make really good progress."

Linking up with Chinese guerillas, Wyatt continued to make his way back, and as he did, the war came to an end. Wyatt spotted a C-47 Gooney Bird that was his first hint that the war was over - the next aircraft he saw was a Navy Privateer-a B-24, and he grabbed a mirror, flashing the plane his position. The next day, the B-24 returned and dropped supplies to Wyatt and the guerillas. In the supplies was a map with an inked circle and the words, "Your position. The war is over."

He was eventually rescued was awarded the Purple Heart at Walter Reed General Hospital in 1945. Wyatt received two air medals before leaving China in 1945, receiving injuries to his right hip, knee and ear, he survived being lost in the mountains and jungle from July 27 to October, returning safely home to D.C.