Jack Wilson was born on September 2, 1920 in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas to George and Bessie West Wilson. He had one brother James and two sisters Dorothy and Mary. His sister Dorothy served as a Corporal in the WAC in WWII. She was serving in England also and they were able to visit often. His father worked as a Relief Man on the T&P Railroad; he was born in Mississippi.

Jack graduated from Van High School and attended Texas University. He entered training at San Antonia Airfield August 1942 and received his wings at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas in June 1943. He had enlisted in the Army. Served during World War II. He had the rank of Second Lieutenant. Service number was O-684445. He served in 92nd Bomber Group, 326 Bomb Squadron and Flew a B-17’s and completed 50 missions over enemy territory.

Received Purple Heart, Air Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Pres. Citation, ETO Ribbon with Battle Stars and other honors.

Killed in Action in Germany March 23, 1944. He was the Co Pilot on FAME'S FAVOURED FEW. B-17G #42-31888. The aircraft was struck by 20mm shells, the aircraft went out of control, exploded into pieces and crashed East of Hamm, Germany on a mission to Munster and Hamm, Germany.

He is buried in the family plot at Arledge Ridge Cemetery in Bonham, Fannin County Texas.

8 Killed in Action FAME'S FAVOURED FEW. B-17G #42-31888 March 23, 1944

Pilot: Lt. Edward R. Larrivee, NH

Co-pilot: Lt Jack Wilson, TX

Navigator: Lt. Alvin J. Lageson, MN

Flight engineer/top turret gunner: T/Sgt. Joseph Le Blanc, LA

Ball turret gunner: Sgt. Maynard Dunker, IL

Waist gunner: Sgt. James Helms, TX

Waist gunner: Sgt. Ferman Wilson, IN

Tail gunner: S/Sgt. Joseph W. Arant KY

2 Prisoner of War

Bombadier: S/Sgt. Frank Adams

Radio Operator: S/Sgt. Jack Bogel

Jack Wilson would have been 100 years old on September 2, 2020 which is also the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II. Thank you for your service and sacrifice Lt. Wilson.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

Sources:

www.ancestry.com

www.findagrave.com

www.americanairmuseum.com