Major John C Wilkins, Oregon, Service Number O-022851, was the only Army Air Force pilot to fly with the Navy and Marine squadrons. Before Pearl Harbor he flew with the Marines at Guadalcanal, was in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl. He returned to the Pacific Theater of Operations and flew as fighter pilot from the carrier Hornet in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Wilkins was transferred back to the States to serve as technical adviser on a training film for fighter tactics, before returning to combat but this time in the European Theater of Operations in August, 1943.
Maj. Wilkins was deputy group commander of the 20th Fighter Group flying P-38 fighters over Germany. The following is from the American Air Museum in Britain: "On 6-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by MAJ John C. Williams (20FG HQ), intended to join a group 7 other P-38s from 20FG that were aseembling with those of the 55FG on a mission to escort B-26 formations of 9th Air Force attacking at Montdidier, France. The aircraft was lost over the English Channel on the way to join up with the bomber formations. According to the MACR he took off seven minutes after that other aircraft from his Group left and used the wrong runway. Since this was the first combat operation by 20FG perhaps he just was anxious to join his men and get the first combat experience behind him. Radio communications were prohibited and he was never seen or heard from again."
Awarded Bronze Star, 2 Navy Air Medals, Navy Presidental Unit Citation,
Army Air Force Air Medal and Purple Heart
Major John C Wilkins, Oregon, Service Number O-022851, was the only Army Air Force pilot to fly with the Navy and Marine squadrons. Before Pearl Harbor he flew with the Marines at Guadalcanal, was in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl. He returned to the Pacific Theater of Operations and flew as fighter pilot from the carrier Hornet in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Wilkins was transferred back to the States to serve as technical adviser on a training film for fighter tactics, before returning to combat but this time in the European Theater of Operations in August, 1943.
Maj. Wilkins was deputy group commander of the 20th Fighter Group flying P-38 fighters over Germany. The following is from the American Air Museum in Britain: "On 6-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by MAJ John C. Williams (20FG HQ), intended to join a group 7 other P-38s from 20FG that were aseembling with those of the 55FG on a mission to escort B-26 formations of 9th Air Force attacking at Montdidier, France. The aircraft was lost over the English Channel on the way to join up with the bomber formations. According to the MACR he took off seven minutes after that other aircraft from his Group left and used the wrong runway. Since this was the first combat operation by 20FG perhaps he just was anxious to join his men and get the first combat experience behind him. Radio communications were prohibited and he was never seen or heard from again."
Awarded Bronze Star, 2 Navy Air Medals, Navy Presidental Unit Citation,
Army Air Force Air Medal and Purple Heart
Inscription
MAJ HQ SQ 20 FTR GP OREGON
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