SSgt Walter John Matthau (1920-2000)

[BLUEHAWK]

Stationed at Old Buckenham, England

Constituted as the 453rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 May 1943, it was activated on 1 June 1943. Trained with B-24's. Moved to RAF_Old_Buckenham in East_Anglia, December 1943-January 1944, and assigned to Eighth_Air_Force. The group was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-J".
The 453d BG entered combat on 5 February 1944 with an attack against an airfield at Tours. Throughout combat, the unit served chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization. Targets included a fuel depot at Dulmen, marshalling yards at Paderborn, aircraft assembly plants at Gotha, railway centres at Hamm, an ordnance depot at Glinde, oil refineries at Gelsenkirchen, chemical works at Leverkusen, an airfield at Neumünster, a canal at Minden, and a railway viaduct at Altenbeken.
The group took part in the concentrated attack against the German aircraft industry during Big_Week, 20–25 February 1944. Besides strategic operations, the group engaged in support and interdictory missions. Bombed V-weapon sites, airfields, and gun batteries in France prior to the invasion of Normandy in June 1944; on 6 June hit shore installations between Le_Havre and Cherbourg and other enemy positions farther inland. Attacked enemy troops in support of the Allied breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July. Bombed German communications during the Battle_of_the_Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Ferried cargo on two occasions: hauled gasoline, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944; dropped ammunition, focal, and medical supplies near Wesel during the Operation_Varsity in March 1945.
Jimmy_Stewart, the Hollywood movie star, was Group Operations Officer at Old Buckenham during the spring of 1944.
The 453d Bomb Group flew its last combat mission in April. Initially it was prepared for possible redeployment to the Pacific theatre using B-29 Superfortresses. However hostilities in Europe had ceased before the group had time to start its movement. It returned to New Castle AAFld, Delaware on 9 May 1945 and was inactivated on 12 September 1945.

==================

WALTER MATTHAU (B-24 Radioman/Gunner) - Actor/Director/Producer

(October 1, 1920 - July 1, 2000)

Born: Walter Matthow

Served as a radio cryptographer with the 453rd Bomb Group.
SSgt Walter Matthow (not an actor at the time) served under Jimmy Stewart.

WALTER MATTHAU Aviation film:

Fail Safe - Special Edition (1964)
[Role: Professor Groeteschele]