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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
Texas | |
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Year of Birth
1917 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Wilder, Rodney Ross, Col.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town
Taylor, Texas |
Last Address
Dallas, Texas
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Date of Passing
Jun 06, 1964 |
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Location of Interment
Taylor City Cemetery - Taylor, Texas |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Third Addition, Section 25 |
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Last Known Activity
He was the co-pilot in crew #5 on the Doolittle Raid. Earlier he had been the co-pilot of a B-25 that had spotted and sunk a Japanese submarine at the mouth of the Columbia River. Later he would command a B-25 unit in England, North Africa and the Mediterranean.
His DFC citation:
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Ross Rodney Wilder, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Co-Pilot of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Lieutenant Wilder with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.
Action Date: April 18, 1942
Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: First Lieutenant
Company: 1st Special Aviation Project
Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force
Crew #5 (Plane #40-2283, target Tokyo): 95th Bomb Sq. L-R: Lt. Eugene F. McGurl, navigator; Capt. David M. Jones, pilot; Lt. Denver V. Truelove, bombardier; Lt. Ross R. Wilder, copilot; Sgt. Joseph W. Manske, flight engineer/gunner. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Other Comments:
Sources:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1900
http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/wilder.htm
http://www.cieldegloire.com/batailles_tokyo_e05.php#2
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20352082
http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=30473
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1940-1941, AAF MOS 770, Aviation Cadet Flight School
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1941-1942, AAF MOS 1081, 95th Bombardment Squadron, Medium
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1941-1942, AAF MOS 1081, 17th Bombardment Group, Medium
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1942-1942, AAF MOS 1081, Doolittle Raiders (composite group)
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1942-1942, 380th Bombardment Squadron, Medium
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1942-1944, AAF MOS 1081, 310th Bombardment Group, Medium
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1943-1944, AAF MOS 1060, 380th Bombardment Squadron, Medium
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1944-1945, AAF MOS 2120, 33rd Flying Training Wing (Staff)
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1945-1947, AAF MOS 2120, Air Force Bases/ Installations
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1947-1956, 12th Air Force
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1947-1962, 26, Air Force Reserve Command
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1956-1957, 21, 433rd Troop Carrier Group
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