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name
PEROT, Wilfred Robert - Date of
birth
23 December 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Campti, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
Campti, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-802604 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
533rd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 January 1944 - Place of
death
North of Minden, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 9 | 23 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Earl W. Perot (father)
Helen Perot (mother)
Paul E. Perot (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5878 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Yankee Eagle
Destination: Oschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1874
More information
Wilfred R. Perot graduated from Coushatta High School and attended Louisiana State Normal College.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 3 April 1942. He was stationed at Camp Beauregard and at the flying schools of Nashville, Tennessee and Maxwell Field. He was commissioned at Moody Field, Georgia in May 1943. He was then transferred to Shaw Field, North Carolina and Lodwick School of Aeronautics, Florida. He took final training in Alexandria. He was sent overseas in October 1943.
At the time of his death his brother Paul was stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida.
A FW-190 collided head on between the #1 and #2 engine. The wing broke off and the airplane exploded.
One crew member was blown away and survived. Nine men were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, "The killing sky" by Jaap van der Kuylen, WWII Draft Card, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.newspapers.com - The Times 6 May 1943