World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Charles Estes Wilbanks, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS RESERVE IN SEPTEMBER 1942. CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY JANUARY 1943. SELECTED FOR THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. RECEIVED TRAINING AT TEXAS A&M COLLEGE (PRE-FLIGHT); SAN ANTONIO AVIATION CADET CENTER; VICTORY FIELD, TEXAS (PRIMARY); GARDEN CITY, KANSAS (BASIC) AND ALTUS ARMY AIRFIELD, OKLAHOMA (ADVANCED). GRADUATED, RECEIVED PILOT WINGS AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT ON FEBRUARY 8, 1944. REMAINED AT ALTUS AS A TWIN-ENGINE BOMBER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. SERVED AS A BOMBER PILOT.