Edwin B Wright
Military
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FRE 9553
'LUCKY WRIGHT'S ESCAPE Lt "Lucky" Edwin Wright, just over 19 yrs. old, just returned from his 39th mission- over Munster. He got hit by flak but continued on his mission dropped his bombs, did a spot of strafing and retuned. When he got back he found a hole 8ins. in diameter through his 11ins. diam prop blade, caused by a direct hit from an ack ack shell. If the shell had deviated an inch and a half either side, his blade would have severed and he would have been brought down. This is the 6th. time that Wright has been hit by Flak and is now known as “Lucky Wright”. He has 5 and a half months of combat to his credit and 39 missions. He belongs to a Republic Thunderbolt Squadron commanded by Major J Sherwood. Roger LIFE'
Roger Freeman Collection
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Edwin Wright flew 88 missions in P-47 Thunderbolts over Europe during WWII. He left the Army in 1946 after the war and was again called up for the Korean Conflict in 1950. He retired from the US Air Force as a Major.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 404th Fighter Group 506th Fighter Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
2 March 1925 | ||
Died |
2 April 1959 | As a result of lung cancer | |
Enlisted |
Illinois, USA | Exact date not yet known | |
Buried/ Commemorated |
Urbana, IL, USA | In Woodlawn Cemetery |
Revisions
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources
Correspondence with Edwin B Wright's daughter, Jacquie.
http://www.winkton.net/Leap%20Off/LeapOffPdf3.pdf
Missing Air Crew Report 10499: https://www.fold3.com/image/29250232
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=92485945