Walter Travis Stewart

Walter Travis Stewart (November 8, 1917 – January 9, 2016) was an American combat veteran who served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Force in WW2. He is best known for the role he played in Operation Tidal Wave, a low-level bombing mission to the oilfields of Ploiești, Romania, which was the 31st of 32 combat missions Stewart would fly during the war. After completing a war-bonds tour back home and his 32nd combat mission, Stewart transitioned to the Reserves where he continued to fly for the remainder of his 36-year career, retiring at the rank of colonel.

Stewart began training as a pilot at Victorville, California, in 1941. He entered the war with the 93rd Bomb Group stationed in Hardwick, England and flew 18 missions while stationed there. Stewart was then assigned his own plane that he named UTAH MAN after the University of Utah fight song which he had attended. From an airfield in Benghazi, Libya he continued to fly combat missions over Italy, culminating in Operation Tidal Wave.

After the war, Stewart worked in general contracting, taught religious institute, and served two missions for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Stewart was featured in the PBS documentary "A Wing and a Prayer".

Early life, family and education Walter Travis Stewart was born on November 8, 1917,