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Personal info

Full name
WILSON, Ray Y "Raymond"
Date of birth
27 January 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Maryland
Hometown
Summit County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
35377577
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
367th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 December 1943
Place of death
In the vicinity of Venne, 10 miles northeast of Osnabrück, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 13 17

Immediate family

Members
Estelle (Dwigg) Wilson (mother)
Richard A. Wagner (stepfather)
Ruth B. Wagner (halfsister)
Richard Wagner (halfbrother)
Jean A. Wagner (halfsister)
Annie G. (Wilson) Wagner (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3363
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Punchy
Destination: Osnabrück, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 1716

More information

Ray Y. Wilson was employed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

He graduated from the Las Vegas, Nevada Gunnery School after completing a five week course in August 1942. He then was stationed at the army air base in Salt Lake City, waiting for his assignment.

He was married to Annnie Wilson in April 1943.

Enemy aircraft knocked out #1 and #2 enignes and severely damaged a wing. Three crew members managed to bail and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.

They were initially buried at the POW cemetery of Achmer air base on 23 December 1943.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Headstone and Interment Record, National WWII Memorial, Footnote - MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Akron Beacon Journal

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.306bg.org - Philippe Smeets , www.newspapers.com - The Akron Beacon Journal