Russell Alger Wilson

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

In April 1943, Wilson was appointed Wing Executive Officer of the 4th Combat Bomb Wing was commanding officer of the 4th Combat Bomb Wing, based at Elveden Hall. In this capacity by July 1943 he had completed 5 combat missions over occupied Europe.



In September 1943, Wilson assumed command of the 4th Combat Bomb Wing, and had completed another 5 combat missions by October 1943. On 9 October 1943, Wilson was awarded the Silver Star for his leadership on a mission over Marienburg, where he maintained air discipline while his task force of B-17 Flying Fortresses came under attack by enemy fighters.



On 6 March 1944 Wilson was killed in action, while was serving aboard B-17F 42-3491 'Chopstick-G George', the lead pathfinder aircraft for the 3rd Bomb Division during the mission, which was assigned to the 482nd Bomb Group. The aircraft was hit by flak just after bombs away over the target: Klein Machnow, Berlin, and one of the engines caught light. The aircraft fell out of formation before exploding in mid-air. Eyewitnesses reported 5 or 6 parachutes were seen, but only 3 members of the crew survived. Wilson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1944, for his service as Command Pilot during this mission

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 812th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator
First Lieutenant Louis A. Dentoni of the 385th Bomb Group checks the bomb load of his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lulu Belle" before a mission. Passed for publication 25 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-49. A Flying Fortress hero - the leading bombadier[sic] of this Flying Fortress group who is only 24 years of age. He is 1/Lt. Louis A. Dentoni, here seen in the bomb bay of his Fort, checking the load before the take-off on another mission in the "Lulu Be
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19036033 on enlistment, O-735978
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Group Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 812th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 812th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 812th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14066309
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Chopstick-G George
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 812th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Dixon Springs, Illinois 20 March 1905

Enlisted

Grad

US Military Academy, West Point, New York 9 June 1928 Graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree & Commissioned Second Lieutenant

Died

6 March 1944

Other

Missing In action

Berlin 6 March 1944

Other

Officially declared dead

7 August 1945

Buried

Marion, Illinois/Rose Hill Cemetery

Other

Assigned

Fort Monmouth, New Jersey 51st Battalion, US Signal Corps

Other

Assigned

Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University Received Master of Science degree

Other

Assigned

Fort Monmouth, New Jersey Graduated from Signal School

Other

Primary ground and flying instruction training

Brooks Field, Texas, and Randolph Field, Texas

Other

Advanced Flying School

Kelly Field, Texas,

Based

Langley Army Airfield Group Communications Officer, 8th Pursuit Group

Other

Based

Farrandsville, Pennsylvania Camp executive and Adjutant

Based

Langley Army Airfield Group Communications Officer, 8th Pursuit Group

Other

Based

Mitchel Field, New York Zone Communications Officer, Eastern Zone, Army Air Corps Mail Operations

Based

Langley Army Airfield Group Communications Officer, 8th Pursuit Group

Based

Langley Army Airfield Operations Officer, 8th Pursuit Group

Based

Langley Army Airfield Wing Communications and Supply Officer, 2nd Bombardment Wing

Based

Langley Army Airfield 8th Pursuit Group

Based

Langley Army Airfield Flight Commander, 36th Pursuit Squadron

Based

Langley Army Airfield Squadron Supply Officer and Adjutant of the 36th Pursuit Squadron

Other

Assigned

Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama Graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School

Other

Studied

Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland Field Officers' Course, Chemical Warfare School

Other

Based

Maxwell Air Force Base

Other

Based

March Field, California Squadron Adjutant and Personnel Officer, 32d Bombardment Squadron

Other

Based

March Field, California Operations and Intelligence Officer, 32d Bombardment Squadron

Other

Based

March Field, California Commanding Officer, 1st Communications Squadron

Based

Langley Army Airfield Communications Officer, 41st Reconnaissance Squadron

Based

Langley Army Airfield Commanding Officer, 13th Reconnaissance Squadron

Based

Bolling Field Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Air Force

Other

Based

Washington DC Latin America Section, Operations Division, War Department

Based

Bury St Edmunds 6 March 1944 Commanding Officer, 4th Combat Bomb Wing

Based

based

Elveden Hall Wing Executive Officer, 4th Bombardment Wing

Buried

Rose Hill Cemetery, Marion, Illinois

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Brought together information from duplicate record to include information from MACR 3362 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Removed associations to 482nd Bomb Group and composite squadrons. As per the MACR Wilson was aboard 42-3491 which was pathfinder aircraft assigned to the 482nd Bomb Group in his capacity as Commanding Officer of the 4th Combat Bomb Wing, and was not assigned to this unit.

Official Air Force Biography

Find a Grave

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3362/ Judy Anderson, niece