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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

John B. Willcoxon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oberlin, Kansas

Honored By

A Grateful American

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

FIRST LIEUTENANT, PILOT, B-24 LIBERATOR, SERVED IN THE 320TH SQUADRON (MOBY DICK) AND 400TH SQUADRON (BLACK PIRATES), 90TH BOMB GROUP 'JOLLY ROGERS', 5TH AIR FORCE, IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. KILLED IN ACTION JULY 20, 1943. RETURNING FROM A 320TH SQUADRON RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT BETWEEN MADANG AND BENA BENA, HIS PLANE (VIRGIN III) WAS ATTACKED BY JAPANESE PLANES THAT HAD BEEN PROTECTING A JAPANESE CONVOY. IT WAS HIT AND EXPLODED IN MIDAIR. AWARDED: SILVER STAR, AIR MEDAL, AND PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER.