1LT. Francis Eldon Wilson was a B-25 Bombardier with the 310th Bombardment Group; 381st Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO) during WW II. His Hometown was Wheatlad, WYOMING

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Monday, 8 February 1943

381st BS War Diary: (No non-mission information)

381st BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order ---/mission ---)

Group Mission # 40: GABES AIR DROME

Sqdrn. Mission # 23

Flight 18 B-25’s

Escort 18 P-38’s

Take Off 11:00

Bomb Load: (13 x 120) Frags.

Target 12:30

Bombs Dropped: 3(12 x 120). 4,360#

Down 14:25

Total Time: 3 Hrs. 25 Min.

Weather: CAVU.

Remarks: Approximately (204 x 120), or 24,480# of frag bombs were dropped in the target area by the flight, causing fires and much destruction. Seven or more ME-109-E’s and F’s were shot down, one by Sgt Hughes. Lt. Jackson observed this ME-109-E go down and crash N.W. of the target.

Flak: Heavy and light, very intense and accurate was encountered in the target area. It caused much damage to our aircraft. 25-30 Enemy A/C attacked, diving and climbing through our formation.

The mission was coordinated with 16 B-26’s. Lt. Linden’s ship was riddled with machine gun, cannon and flak holes. He made an excellent crash landing at Berteaux. Four of our A/C, including those of Lt. Crump and Lt. Cox failed to return.

381st BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # ?: (MACR not available)

A/C B-25; Serial No. 41-13084 “Dis'n Did't” (MACR-? - shot down) (K)

P Crump, Walter P. “Bitsy”, 1Lt - MIA; FOD: KIA; O-427308; Irving, Dallas County, TX

CP Froelicher, Peter R., 2Lt - MIA; FOD; KIA; 0-791686; South Norwalk, Fairfield Co. CT

N Gollnitz, Frederick C., 1Lt - MIA; FOD; KIA; O-790952; Fredonia, Chautauqua Co. NY

B Wilson, Francis E., 1Lt - KIA;FOD; KIA; 0-662326; Wheatland; Platte Co., WY

E None

R Larck, Buster A., T/Sgt - MIA; FOD; KIA; 6988296; Kanawha Co., WV

G Massengale, Jack T., S/Sgt - MIA; FOD; KIA; 18053202; Okmulgee Co., OK

F None

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381st BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 14584:

A/C B-25; Serial No. 41-13073 “VAR ARIEN” (M) (MACR-14584 - shot down)

P Cox, Robert A., 1Lt - DED

CP Szczygiel, Joseph F., 2Lt - DED

N None

B McHarge, James Hayes, T/Sgt - DED

E None R Brink, Robert W., S/Sgt - DED

G Windham, Duke Green, Jr., S/Sgt - DED

F None

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4 June 1945 Records this Headquarters indicate above mentioned personnel KIA, 8 February 1943, as result of plane crash. Place last sighted: 33° 58’ N., 9° 53’ E. (Tunisia). MACR # 14584. Co-ordinates given in this report as to the site where the aircraft was last seen are only approximate as a number of aircraft went down at this time and none were positively identified as to the exact spot each went down. No search was made at this time because the aircraft went down in enemy territory. No information other than given in this report is available at this base

381st BS Special Account:

“GABES” Mission Narrative by Lt. Eric O. Linden - Pilot

The “Gabes Mission” proved to be the first major set-back for the 381st Squadron and our Group. It was the Squadron’s 23rd mission and the Groups’ 40th.

We, being briefed on the Gabes airdrome, set out to add another “Sunday punch” to the Jerries. Prior to this raid we had lost no men and only one ship. Consequently this was just another raid to us.

This Gabes mission was different to all of us in that we were to use “B-26” tactics instead of our own “hit and run” method.

Eighteen B-25’s took off at 11:00 hours escorted by 18 P-38’s. This being a coordinating attack with B-26’s we followed them to the target. Enroute 4 P-38’s and 3B-26’s returned to their base due to mechanical difficulties. Our approach to the target was made at 11,000 feet. A full 20 minutes before we were over the target we could see Rommel’s fighters; of the famous “Yellow-Nose Squadron”, we found out later; stirring up streaks of dust on the desert as they took off to meet our attack. There were between 30 and 50 Jerries to great us and they were quite unwelcome. Considering that we had only 14 P-38’s as escort for our 33 bombers, we had little defense except our own guns. From this point I will relate my own personal experience. We were flying in “POTCHA-GALOOP” received a direct hit in the bomb bay. Because of this we had to salvo the 12 racks of our fragmentation bombs. We also lost our hydraulic system due to this hit. As we left the target Lt. Crump’s ship was also badly hit. He made a steep right bank and “peeled off” from the formation with Lt. Cox going along with him. At this time I was above “Bitsy” and he and Lt. Cox passed under our ship. It was the last time I saw either ship. I held my position on Capt. Allen’s flight and turned out to be “tail end Charlie”. All hell broke loose as one fighter after another made passes at “POTCH-A-GALOOP”. During these attacks we lost our air speed indicators, emergency landing mechanism, and the lower turret was put out of commission. One Jerry paid the price for this damage by coming within range of S/Sgt. Hughes’ guns. A few seconds later these guns became inoperative too.

One scare and close call was when, on the way home, a flak fragment shattered my left window but failed to penetrate the glass. By now we knew we had lost two of our other planes, piloted by our friends in the 380th Squadron, Lt. Lacy and Lt. Barnwell.

Upon reaching the field, we radioed our difficulties to Capt. Allan, in the lead ship. He acted as our air speed indicator while we attempted to lower our landing gear manually--but our wheels just wouldn’t lock down--and again as we made our approach. At about 20 feet we leveled out and cut all switches. The next I know we were out of our ships and away in a hell of a hurry, fearing the ship might catch fire. The most pleasing news was that none of the crew had been hurt at all. That mission was our 14th and “POTCH-A-GALOOP’S” last.

Much credit for the ship’s safe return is due T/Sgt. Porter and his maintenance crew.

Francis E Wilson