World War II Honoree

Raymond H. Wilkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Portsmouth, Virginia

Honored By

Elpidio Manoso III (MAJ, US Army Retired)

World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Enlisted in the Army in July 1936. Served as a Major, U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater of Operations. On November 2, 1943, he led a formation of eight B-25s against enemy Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, New Britain. His airplane was hit almost immediately but he held fast and led his squadron into the attack. He strafed a group of small harbor vessels and then at low level, attacked an destroyed two enemy ships. With his damaged stabilizer completely shot off, he avoided swerving into his wing planes by deliberately exposing his B-25 to enemy fire. Past control, he and his bomber crashed into the sea. His self sacrifice made possible the safe withdrawal of the remaining planes of his squadron. It was his 87th combat mission. In addition to the Medal of Honor he was also awarded the Silver Star, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals and the Purple Heart.