Anthony Peter Wigda
MilitaryTony was the father of Two, Michael P and Bonnie K Wigda. He had three grandchildren, Michael P Hinds, Jeffrey S Hinds, Hillary Nowak, 2 great grandchildren Ethan Michael Hinds, Scarlett Mae Hinds. Tony became a Electronics Engineer at a local Radio Station in Grand Rapids Michigan after the war. He never once spoke of his service to any of us. It wasn’t until we went through his personal effects that we found his Air medal. That started me on a ten year quest to discover the hero we never knew.
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 854th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 854th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31287724
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Gunner
Revisions
This was researched for me by the Late Bruce Hicks, British Air Museum.
Copy below
R
DOB 7/2/1924
DOD 9/26/1984
Internment: Grand Rapids Vets Home Cemetery, plot 8, row 9, grave 68
Service #364-54-977
Enlisted 3/5/1943 Kalamazoo
8th AF, 491st Bomber Group, 854th Squadron, crew R136 (early 1944)
Anthony Wigda research
Hi Tim,
I don't know if anyone has responded to your request for info that you posted on the 491st BG Guestbook. I have a small amount of info on Mr. Wigda.
He belonged to crew number R136 and was with the 854th Bomd Squardon. The crew was as follows:
P Paul E Southwell
CP Charles J Mangel
N Haigus Tufenkjian
B Frederick Gefen
E Lawrence R Conley
R Anthony P Wigda
NG Ronald R Harris
TG Robert F Smith
RW Kenneth O Wise
G Melvin C Grant
G Kevin J Moynihan
The R in the crew number means the crew was a replacement crew. The 491st first arrived in England in May 1944 with 72 original crews (18 in each of the 4 squadrons). They were numbered from 1 to 72. As replacement crews arrived they were assigned crew numbers that began with the R designation. Each squadron was given a block of R numbers so the 136 in this crew number doesn't tell you when the crew arrived at the 491st. This crew was with the 491st relatively early because the Navigator was killed by German civilians on August 26, 1944. As far as the plane they flew, I have no idea. The information I have mainly only has plane numbers for the original crews and for crews that lost planes. The crew list came from the group roster put together in 1994. As of that time none from this crew were members of the 491st BGH Association. The association was together another 15 years so some of them may have joined but I think at least five were already deceased by 1997.
I hope some of this is of interest to you.
Bruce Hicks