James W. Wilkinson

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to James W. Wilkinson (0-885574), Captain (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 82d Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 19 May 1944, during an air mission in the European Theater of Operations. On that date Captain Wilkinson was escorting B-24 bomber boxes of the Third Air Task Force on course to attack industrial targets in Brunswick, Germany. The Group was 11 o’clock level with the lead box of 300 bombers, when a large gaggle of sixty plus ME-109s and FW-190s in two waves came at the nose of the great formation spread out abreast to increase their firepower effectiveness. Despite damage to his own aircraft, Captain Wilkinson remained in the fight, shooting down one enemy fighter. Captain Wilkinson’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.