World War II Honoree

Carl Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

DeSmet, Idaho

Honored By

Howard E. Butz

Relationship

Nephew

HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN NOVEMBER 1942 IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. INDUCTION AND TRAINING WAS IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA. GROUND SCHOOL WAS AT SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA. BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING WAS AT LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA WHERE HE FLEW B-13S. ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING WAS IN MARFA, TEXAS WHERE HE FLEW AT-17; A TWIN ENGINE CESSNA. GRADUATED FROM FLIGHT TRAINING AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SENT TO NELIS ARMY AIR CORPS BASE WHERE HE BECAME QUALIFIED AS A B-17 CO-PILOT. IN DECEMBER 1944 HE WAS SENT TO ENGLAND AND STATIONED AT MOLESWORTH AIR BASE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 303RD BOMB GROUP AND SPENT TIME IN BOTH THE 359TH AND 360TH SQUADRONS. THERE HE COMPLETED 32 OF THE 35 MISSIONS THAT CONSTITUTED A TOUR OF DUTY. HIS 32ND MISSION WAS THE LAST ONE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE. HE CAME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES IN OCTOBER OF 1945 AND WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY.