World War II Honoree

Loy L. Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Columbus, Ohio

Honored By

A Grateful American

RADIO OPERATOR, GUNNER, B-24 LIBERATOR 'LITTLE EVA', 321ST SQUADRON (BOMBS AWAY), 90TH BOMB GROUP 'JOLLY ROGERS', 5TH AIR FORCE, SERVING IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. MEMBER OF NORMAN CROSSON CREW. RETURNING FROM A BOMBING MISSION AGAINST A JAPANESE TROOP CONVOY NORTH OF BUNA ON DECEMBER 2, 1942, THE PILOT BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER FOUR PLANES. CAUGHT IN A BAD THUNDERSTORM THE PLANE RAN OUT OF GAS AND CRASHED. AFTER PARACHUTING OUT AND WITH VERY LITTLE FOOD AND WATER, HE WAS RESCUED FIFTEEN DAYS LATER WEST OF BURKETOWN.