Born in Lingerwood, North Dakota, May 10, 1918, Graduated from the Phineas Banning High School Wilmington, California, June 1936
Enrolled in the University of California, Davis, August 1937 Transferred to the UCLA campus in January 1939
Withdrew in September 1940 to accept appointment to the Army Air Corps
Military Service
MILITARY HISTORY
O 4 13 546
Military Training
Enlisted in the Army of the United States, 9 September 1940 as a Flying Cadet.
Sep 1940 to Nov 1940; AC Training Detachment (Primary), Lindberg Field, San Diego.
Nov 1940 to Feb 1941; AC Basic Flying School, Moffett Field, California.
Feb 1941 to Apr 1941; AC Advanced Flying School, Stockton, California.
Graduated from the Army Air Corps Training Program as a Pilot, 25 April 1941 and honorably discharged.
COMMISSIONED Second Lieutenant, AUS, AC Reserve, 25 April 1941; and entered on active duty April 26, 1941.
COMMISSIONED First Lieutenant, AUS, 1 June 1942.
Active Service Assignment
May 1941 to Mar 1942; Assistant Squadron Adjutant and Assistant Mess Officer, 9th Bomb Sq, 7th Bomb Gp (H) Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah and Southwest Pacific Area (Australia).
Mar 1942 to Aug 1942; Pilot, 28th Bomb Sq (H), 19th Bombardment Gp (H) SPA.
In Service 1 year, 10 months, and 25 days.
Lieutenant Putman was reported missing in action* 2 August 1942, and presumed dead, 7 January 1946.
Decorations and Awards
PURPLE HEART (Posthumous).
AIR MEDAL.
AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL with Foreign Service Clasp. ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL with Three Bronze Service Stars for participation in the East Indies, Papua and Philippine Islands Campaigns.
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.
PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON.
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE RIBBON.
PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION EMBLEM.
DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION EMBLEM with One Oak Leaf Cluster.
AVIATION BADGE ‘Pilot’.
* .. Sunday morning 2 August 1942, a formation of six B-17s led by Major Helton, Squadron Commander... crossed the Owen Stanley Range in S. E. New Guinea and were 20 miles offshore between Puna and Cape Ward when spotted by a group of Japanese Zero fighters. In the resulting action the plane piloted by Lieutenant Putman was shot down!'( excerpt from official report)