World War II Honoree

Bernard Eugene Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bainbridge, Georgia

Honored By

William David Wilson

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED ON 16 JULY 43 AT BAINBRIDGE GEORGIA AIR STATION. ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY ON 22 MARCH 44. INDUCTED AT FT. MCPHERSON, GEORGIA. BASIC TRAINING AT KEESLER FIELD IN BILOXI MISSISSIPPI. QUALIFIED FOR MARKSMAN BADGE WITH PISTOL AND SHARPSHOOTER BADGE WITH CARBINE. RECEIVED GUNNERY TRAINING AND EXCELLENT RATING AT BUCKINGHAM AAB IN FT MYERS FLORIDA. RECEIVED AAF AIR CREW MEMBER BADGE AT CREW TRAINING IN CLOVIS NEW MEXICO. DEPARTED USA FROM MATHER AIR BASE CALIFORNIA ON 2 JUNE 45 WITH HIS CREW ON A B-29, ARRIVED AT TINIAN'S NORTH FIELD ON 6 JUNE 45. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 313TH BOMBARDMENT WING, 6TH BOMB GROUP, 24TH BOMB SQUADRON. FLEW 15 COMBAT MISSIONS AS A B-29 LEFT BLISTER GUNNER FROM TINIAN. RECEIVED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BATTLE STARS FOR THE JAPAN AIR OFFENSIVE, THE CHINA OFFENSIVE, AND THE EASTERN MANDATES, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. WAS WITH THE 6TH BOMB GROUP WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR THE STRATEGIC BLOCKADING OF THE JAPANESE EMPIRE FROM 9 JULY 45 TO 19 JULY 45 CODE NAMED 'OPERATION STARVATION.' FLEW ON THE 'SHOW OF FORCE' MISSION OVER THE USS MISSOURI AS THE JAPANESE SIGNED THE DOCUMENTS OF SURRENDER ON 2 SEPTEMBER 1945 TO END THE WAR. FLEW AT LEAST 2 POW SUPPLY MISSIONS. DEPARTED THE PACIFIC THEATER FROM SAIPAN 5 MARCH 46 ON THE SS MARINE LYNX, ARRIVED IN AMERICA AT OAKLAND CALIFORNIA ON 17 MARCH 46. SEPARATED AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM FT. MCPHERSON, GEORGIA ON 25 MARCH 46.