Donald M Wilson

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Lt D M Wilson earns his " wings " , started the war as a co-pilot and finished his service as a pilot of small ( scouts/observers ) to large ( heavy bombers ) planes . IMG_2402A

The newly trained flight crew is formed and completes training ( a B-17 trainer is behind them ). For combat they received a B-17 Model G - tail # 42-31490 . IMG_2399A

German troops surround and examine crash landed B-17G, on March 24, 1944. While on a mission over Germany another B-17, ahead and in front of Donald and crew, was hit and, as it went down, it took off the nose of #42-31490 besides taking out two engines.Donald and the pilot nursed her back as far as France before the gaping hole in the front of the plane finally brought their B-17G down. IMG_2390A

The French Resistance arrived just before the German patrols and spirited the able surviving crew ( including Donald ) into the French countryside. All similar " evadees " hid for months till the Allied invasion of mainland Europe when they could return to friendly forces and to duty . IMG_2386A

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