World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Ross R. Wilder
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Taylor, Texas
Honored By
Ralph Bozorth
COLONEL AND CO-PILOT ON THE 5TH B-25 BOMBER THAT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS HORNET FOR THE DOOLITTLE RAID ON TOKYO, JAPAN APRIL 18, 1942. WAS CO-PILOT ON B-25 THAT SIGHTED AND SANK JAPANESE SUBMARINE ON DECEMBER 24, 1941 AT MOUTH OF COLUMBIA RIVER. AFTER TOKYO RAID, SERVED AS BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON COMMANDER IN ENGLAND, NORTH AFRICA, ITALY AND CORSICA. RETURNED TO U.S. IN MAY 1944; SERVED AS BASE COMMANDER AT BASES IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA. DECORATIONS INCLUDE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 9 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE CHINESE ARMY, NAVY AND AIR CORPS MEDAL, CLASS A, 1ST GRADE.