World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John F. Wilson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 23 NOVEMBER 1942 AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT GREAT BEND ARMY AIRFIELD, KANSAS. IN SEPTEMBER 1944, DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 498TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 873TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 10 FEBRUARY 1945, HE FLEW IN THE RIGHT SEAT AS A PILOT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS (TAIL # 42-63468). IT WAS ONE OF 120 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT AT OTA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOKYO, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AREA, THE GROUP WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF NAKAJIMA KI-44 SINGLE-ENGINE 'TOJO' FIGHTER PLANES. HIS BATTLE DAMAGED B-29 AIRCRAFT SUFFERED FROM THE # 1 ENGINE BEING OUT, A DEAD RADIO, AND FUEL STARVATION. THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED IN THE NIGHT ON THE RETURN ROUTE HOME AND IS BELIEVED TO HAVE DITCHED APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES SOUTH OF TOKYO, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE AIRCREW.