Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
STRANGE, Wilson Robert - Date of
birth
December 1912 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-757323 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 August 1944 - Place of
death
Berlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 4 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Eli W. Strange (father)
Sylvia (Henderson) Strange (mother)
Alma J. (Bare) Strange (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37533 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the engine factories
MACR: 7587
More information
1st Lt Wilson R. Strange graduated from Eastern High School in 1941 and was employed by the Olds Motor Works.Eyewitness account by S/Sgt Arthur L. Hartwell, crew member of another B-17 in the group:
"Just after bombs away I noticed Lt Strange's plane above me was on fire, which had been started by flak or fighters as both were present. He stayed in formation for five minutes before falling out and was under control. Then he side-slipped over the left and three parachutes came out. Shortly afterward he went into a spin and the plane exploded in mid-air."
Of the nine men crew, six survived the crash and were taken prisoner. Three men were killed.
1st Lt Wilson Strange was killed in the crash.
One of the pictures was taken in high school in 1940.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.usaafdata.com, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, Lansing State Journal 14 August 1944 / Eastern High School Yearbook 1940