George Wesley Phillips, born March 26 1921, started his service in Jan 1942 as an Aviation Cadet. He graduated from Primary Flight School on 7 Sept 1942. He graduated from Marianna Advance Single Engine Flight School on 13 Jan 1943. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant 13 July 1943. He left the United States for Foreign Service 3 May 1944. He arrived at Steeple Morden, England as a combat pilot and served in the 8th Air Force, 357th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group.



On D-Day he departed Steeple Morden on a combat strafing mission in a P-51B Mustang. At approximately 1:25 his plane sustained damage after being hit with FLAK. He was observed bailing out but his parachute failed to open. His body was retrieved by civilians and buried in a small church in Etreville, France.



His body was recovered by the British Graves Team on 10 Feb 1947 and reburied in the US Military Cemetery, Blosville France. His body was returned to the US in 1948 and buried in West Laurel Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.

MACR # 5506

P-51B s/n 43-6640 OS+H