World War II Honoree

Thomas Charles Wilkinson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

San Angelo, Texas

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED AS AN AVIATION CADET IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 23 NOVEMBER 1940 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON NEAR SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 499TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 877TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 1 JUNE 1945, HE FLEW AS THE AIRPLANE COMMAND PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT OF A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS NICKNAMED THE 'FLYING FOOL' (TAIL #44-70083). IT WAS ONE OF 458 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE URBAN AREA OF OSAKA, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AT AN ALTITUDE OF 20,000 FEET, THE NOSE OF HIS AIRCRAFT WAS HIT WITH FLAK BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS FROM A JAPANESE WAR SHIP IN OSAKA BAY AND CRASHED WITH NO SURVIVORS.