Ray Theodore Wilken Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Shot down 6 September 1943 in B-17 #42-30349, Killed in Action (KIA).



On Sep 6, 1943, his B-17, "Patricia", was badly shot up by enemy fighters. He was severely wounded and burned but after keeping the aircraft aloft to allow his crew to bail out, he himself managed to bail out. Unfortunately, a propellor of his falling aircraft caught his parachute on its way down and dragged him down to his death.



Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-670016
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Quarterback
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New York State 20 October 1920

Died

Montgueux 6 September 1943

Buried

Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorMichelbe
Changes
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Michel Beckers WW2CRASHSITERESEARCH

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Bringing in source from duplicate record:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.388bg.info/Personnel.html

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

ABMC, MACR 2409 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia