James Wilkinson served with the 4th Fighter Group and then the 78th Fighter Group, flying missions from England.



On April 27, 1943 while with the 4th Fighter Group, the tail of Lieutenant Wilkinson's P47 41-6416 was sliced off in a midair collision with Archie Chatterly, also of the 4th FG/ 334th FS. Both returned to service, but Wilkinson fractured his spine in the bale out which kept him in the hospital for months.



According to the 82nd Fighter Squadron History reports, he transferred to the 78th FG on 11 Sep 1943 and was appointed acting commanding officer of the 82nd FS on 18 May, 1944 under squadron order number 7 in the absence of Majors J.J. Oberhansly and Norman D. Munson, both of whom were taking a well deserved 30 day leave in the United States. This lasted until his death on 4 June 1944.



Around this time, he met and married Frieda Sutton. She was involved in the nursing services and the Air Raid Precaution.



Wilkinson was Killed in a Flying Accident (KIFA) on 4th June 1944. His P-47 42-26256 crashed into a mountain in Wales on a practice strafing flight. He failed to clear a ridge, perhaps due to low cloud ceiling. Wreckage from the doomed flight has recently been recovered and is part of the AAM collection.



Wilkinson was interred at Cambridge American Cemetery. Wife Frieda received his DSC and Silver Star posthumously.



DSC Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Air Corps) James W. Wilkinson (ASN: 0-885574), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 82d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 19 May 1944, during an air mission in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Captain Wilkinson, without regard to the almost insuperable odds against him, led a flight of three fighters in an attack against thirty or more enemy fighters forming to attack a friendly bomber formation. Disregarding the danger of attack by even larger numbers of enemy fighters approaching behind the first enemy formation, Captain Wilkinson and his wingmen completely dispersed the enemy flight. During this engagement, one of his wingmen was forced out of action, and Captain Wilkinson's plane was damaged by enemy fire. Nevertheless he unhesitatingly flew into the second flight of enemy fighters and broke up its attack against the bombers. He and his remaining wingman then flew ahead of the bombers and attacked a third enemy group of more than thirty fighters forming for attack against the bombers. Although in this action his other wingman was lost, Captain Wilkinson continued to press straight through the enemy flight, shot down one plane, and once more broke up a threat against the bombers. By his extraordinary heroism and his determination to protect the bombers at all costs, Captain Wilkinson rendered outstanding and valorous service to our nation.



Tragically, Wilkinson's widow, Frieda, committed suicide at the age of 34 on January 12, 1945 in Marylebone. She died clutching a photograph of her husband.



Awards: DSC, SS, DFC (4OLC), AM (3OLC), ACM, EAME w/service star, WW II Victory Medal