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Personal info

Full name
JONES, Wilbert G "Bud"
Date of birth
8 May 1914
Age
29
Place of birth
Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa
Hometown
East Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16052382
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
19 August 1943
Place of death
Rozenburg, west of Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
H 17 17

Immediate family

Members
George W. Jones (father)
Ida M. (Cole) Jones (mother)
Virginia L. Jones (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3101
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Man O'War
Destination: Gilze-Rijen, Holland
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 662

More information

S/Sgt. Wilbert G. Jones graduated from United Township High School in 1932 and was a machinist.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Peoria, Illinois on 6 January 1942.

He is remembered at Moline Memorial Cemetery in Moline, Illinois

After making a second run on the target, the group turned to return to their home base. At that moment it was attacked by enemy fighters from a nine o'clock angle. This B-17 was hit by 20 mm canon fire which caused to #3 gaz tank and, soon, the entire inboard section of the right wing to burn furiously. The aircraft left the formation, still under control, in an easy, slightly diving turn to the right, turning back into enemy-occupied territory.

Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four were killed.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, 1940 U.S. Census, Iowa, County Births 1880-1935

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Chicago Tribune - 12 September 1943, The Daily Times - 06 January 1942, www.billiongraves.com