Mark Victor Wilson Jr
MilitaryAssigned to 349BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. 26 x combat missions. Failed to Return Abbeville 5-Jun-44. As he crossed the French coast over the English Channel, the Germans fired a rocket that hit his wingman. His wingman veered into my Father's plane destroying the nose, killing his navigator, bombardier and co-pilot. Realising that he could not make it back to England, he turned back to the French coast. He and his remaining crew bailed out. Both of my Father's legs were broken from shrapnel as he descended in his parachute. When he hit the ground a German soldier was there with a gun telling him that 'for you the war is over'. He spent about a year and one half as a Prisoner of War (POW). this happened on 5 June 1944 in B-17 42-107095. 'Little Bit' Prisoner of War (POW).
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME, American Campaign, UN, Air Force Longevity (OLC).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39555544
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-691762
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16006765 / O-688708
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32280729
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39021182
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little bit
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 5 June 1944
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Alamosa, California, USA | 18 February 1924 | Son of Mark V Sr and Gertrude [Hughes] Wilson. |
Enlisted |
7 April 1942 | ||
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 5 June 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
Other Baled out POW |
Vicinity of Hardelot, France | 5 June 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Abbeville in 42-107095; mid air collision destroyed nose of A/C, baled out POW. MACR 5384 |
Other Discharged USAF |
31 January 1966 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Ocala, Marion County, FL | 12 April 1982 | |
Buried |
Arlington Park Cemetery Jacksonville, Duval County, FL | 15 April 1982 | Arlington Park Cemetery Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida |
Based |
Thorpe Abbotts | 5 June 1944 | Assigned to 349BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28664580/mark-victor-wilson
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5384 / MACR 5384/son / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database