Russell Alger Wilson
Military ROLL OF HONOURIn 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
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Wing
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413630.jpg.webp?itok=F7rJs_L0)
- 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
- Date: 6 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
- Site type: Airfield
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
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.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3362/ Judy Anderson, niece