World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Joseph Edward Wilkinson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Columbia, South Carolina
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED AS A LIEUTENANT FIGHTER PILOT IN THE AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATERS WITH THE 81ST FIGHTER SQUADRON, 50TH FIGHTER GROUP, 9TH AIR FORCE. BASED AT LYMINGTON, ENGLAND, HIS P-47 'THUNDERBOLT' FIGHTER UNIT ENGAGED IN FIGHTER SWEEPS, LONG RANGE BOMBER ESCORT AND GROUND SUPPORT MISSIONS. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION DURING A MISSION, HIS STATUS WAS LATER CHANGED TO KILLED IN ACTION AND A FINDING OF DEATH ISSUED. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY.