World War II Honoree

Donald M. Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pennsylvania

Honored By

An Indebted American

HE WORKED AT THE BRONZE FACTORY IN BERWYN, PA MAKING BUSHINGS FOR B-17 ENGINES. HE WAS INVITED TO APPLY AS AN AVIATION CADET WHERE HE WOULD RECEIVE HIS COMMISSION. BECAME APART OF THE 381ST BOMB SQUADRON IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. WAS A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS PILOT. IN MARCH 1944, WAS RETURNING FROM A MISSION OVER GERMANY IN THICK CLOUDS WITH ZERO VISIBILITY. ANOTHER PLANE SUDDENLY CAME UP UNDER THEIRS AND KNOCKED OUT THEIR ENGINE, FUEL LINE, AND PLEXIGLASS NOSE COVER. THE PLANE LOST ALTITUDE, WENT INTO A TAILSPIN, AND LANDED WHEELS UP IN A FIELD NEAR LILLE, FRANCE WITH NO CASUALTIES. THE OCCUPANTS WERE REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION. MANY OF THE SQUADRON BECAME POWS, WHILE FOUR MEMBERS, INCLUDING THIS HONOREE WERE SHELTERED BY FRENCH PATRIOTS FOR OVER 10 MONTHS UNTIL THAT SECTION OF FRANCE WAS LIBERATED. THE CANADIANS EVENTUALLY CAME THROUGH AND ESCORTED THE AMERICANS TO TRAINS AND THE PARIS AIRPORT WHERE THEY WERE FLOWN BACK TO ENGLAND. HE VOLUNTEERED TO REMAIN IN ENGLAND AS AN AIR FORCE PILOT, TRANSPORTING OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL ALL OVER FRANCE, GERMANY, AND ENGLAND.