Melvin F Wilson

Military

Radio operator. Zum, B. Crew, Local Flight. 381st BG, 535TH BS.

Transferred to the 534TH BS after the loss of Zum, B. crew 3 September 1943.

Credited with one German fighter damaged on the 9 October 1943 mission.

Crashed on landing after a local test flight on 31 Mar 1944 in B-17F 42-29751 'Stuff'. Killed in Action (KIA).



Awards: AM (4OLC), PH.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ferdinand Christofero

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12064194
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Benjamin J Zum

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795331
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-29751

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Abortion, Stuff
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Colorado, USA 10 February 1920 Son of Joseph Alexander and Goldie Lavonne [Cowdrey] Wilson.

Enlisted

Los Angeles, CA, USA 6 March 1942

Died

Belchamp St Paul, Sudbury CO10 7DP, UK 31 March 1944 Crashed on landing after a local test flight on 31-Mar-44 in B-17F 42-29751 'Stuff'. Killed in Action (KIA).
Colorado, USA

Buried

1000 N Hillside St, Wichita, KS 67214, USA Maple Grove cemetery Sedgwick County, Whichita, KS.

Based

31 March 1944 Assigned to 535BS 381BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/310763665?terms=Melvin%20F%20Wilson
https://www.fold3.com/image/318907257?terms=Melvin%20F%20Wilson
https://www.fold3.com/record/84975616-melvin-f-wilson
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33272381/melvin-finez-wilson

Date
Contributorrwksict
Changes
Sources

Update to Biography, Units (added 535th Bomb Squadron, his first assigned squadron)

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
Contributorrwksict
Changes
Sources

Updated by Melvin's nephew

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx, 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999, Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces