James Willard Wilkinson
Captain, U.S. Army

On 27 April 1943 then-First Lieutenant James Willard Wilkinson was with the 334th Flight Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. That day, the tail of 1LT Wilkinson's P-47 Thunderbolt (SN 41-6416) was sliced off in a midair collision with Archie Chatterly, of the same unit. Both returned to service, but 1LT Wilkinson fractured his spine when he bailed out and that injury kept him in the hospital for months.

In November 1943, Wilkinson transferred to the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces. On 19 May 1944, then-Captain Wilkinson was serving as Pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Plane and his unit was in aerial combat against German forces during an air mission in the European Theater of Operations. Ignoring the almost insuperable odds against him, CPT Wilkinson led a flight of 3 fighters in an attack against 30 or more German fighters forming to attack an Allied bomber formation. Although the danger of attack by even larger numbers of enemy fighters was approaching behind the 1st enemy formation, CPT Wilkinson and his wingmen completely dispersed the enemy flight. During this engagement, one of his wingman was forced out of action, and CPT Wilkinson's plane was damaged by enemy fire. Despite this, CPT Wilkinson unhesitatingly flew into the 2nd flight of German fighters and broke up its attack against the bombers. CPT Wilkinson and his remaining wingman then flew ahead of the bombers and attacked a 3rd enemy group of more than 30 fighters forming for attack against the bombers. Although in this action his other wingman was lost, CPT Wilkinson continued to press straight through the German flight, shot down one plane, and once more broke up a threat against the bombers. CPT Wilkinson’s courageous actions, determination to protect the bombers at all costs, and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

CPT Wilkinson became Commanding Officer of the 82nd Fighter Squadron on 23 May 1944.

On 4 June 1944, just two days before the Normandy invasion, CPT Wilkinson was killed in an air accident in South Wales. His P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter (SN 42-26256) crashed into a mountain in Wales while on a practice strafing flight. He failed to clear a ridge, perhaps due to low cloud ceiling.

During World War II, CPT Wilkinson became a U.S. Army Air Forces 'Ace' credited with shooting down 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with Award Numeral 3
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Air Corps) James Willard Wilkinson (ASN: 0-885574), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 82d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 19 May 1944, during an air mission in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Captain Wilkinson, without regard to the almost insuperable odds against him, led a flight of three fighters in an attack against thirty or more enemy fighters forming to attack a friendly bomber formation. Disregarding the danger of attack by even larger numbers of enemy fighters approaching behind the first enemy formation, Captain Wilkinson and his wingmen completely dispersed the enemy flight. During this engagement, one of his wingman was forced out of action, and Captain Wilkinson's plane was damaged by enemy fire. Nevertheless he unhesitatingly flew into the second flight of enemy fighters and broke up its attack against the bombers. He and his remaining wingman then flew ahead of the bombers and attacked a third enemy group of more than thirty fighters forming for attack against the bombers. Although in this action his other wingman was lost, Captain Wilkinson continued to press straight through the enemy flight, shot down one plane, and once more broke up a threat against the bombers. By his extraordinary heroism and his determination to protect the bombers at all costs, Captain Wilkinson rendered outstanding and valorous service to our nation.

Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 38 (June 25, 1944)

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal [see photo] to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Capt James Willard Wilkinson was one of them, having been credited with 6 aircraft shot down in aerial combat. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Burial

Captain James Willard Wilkinson is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England, in Plot F, Row 2, Grave 113.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56295572/james-willard-wilkinson