Edward L. Wilson

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Edward L. Wilson, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United Nations on the night of 6 July 1951 as pilot of a B-26 attack bomber on a night bombing mission over North Korea. Upon completion of his bombing, Colonel Wilson brought under fire with fifty caliber guns, an enemy vehicle convoy consisting of approximately fifty trucks, three tanks, four half tracks and numerous oxen-drawn wagons, destroying at least ten trucks and damaging fifteen. Although his aircraft was damaged by the enemy’s return fire, he pressed his assaults at extremely low altitude and in the confines of a narrow valley. His aircraft was riddled with three hundred holes, and an electrical fire smoldered in the bomb bay; intermittent smoke and fire trailed from the left engine; the left aileron control was completely destroyed; the hydraulic system was shot out; and a four foot hole was smashed through the left wing. Unable to climb, Colonel Wilson returned at low altitude through narrow valleys to a forward Korean air base, where he made an excellent wheels-up crash landing. Colonel Wilson’s gallantry and technical skill were in keeping with the highest tradition of the service and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.