Mark Twain Wilson Jr
MilitaryMark Wilson was a P-51 Pilot in the 78th Fighter Group / 84th Fighter Squadron. Having 55 missions to his credit, on return from the 25 February 1945 bomber escort mission to Nuremberg, Germany, low on fuel, he decided to crash-land his plane, P-51 # 44-15740. Landed 1,5km South-east of Siegerswoude in the Friesland Province of The Netherlands. His wingman, 1st Lt Charles S. Oldfield had to do the same and they both evaded with the help of Dutch citizens and underground members from the region of Hoornsterwaag (Andries Breitsma, Tetje Breitsma), Hemrik, Garijp (Jan Minkes, Tjalling E. Nijboer, Anne de Vries, Piet Dijkstra, Geu Luik and others.) Wilson and Oldfield were liberated on 14 April 1945 when they were taken to rejoin troops of the Royal Canadian Dragoons at Olderkoop, 5km SW of Hoornsterzwaag. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2959.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20415845 / O-806893 / 13901A
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
Missions
- Date: 25 February 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
- Site type: Aircraft crash site
- Known as: Siegerswoude
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
28 September 1918 | ||
Enlisted |
13 June 1942 | as a Private in the Air Corps | |
Other Evaded |
25 February 1945 - 14 April 1945 | Short on fuel, had to force-land his P-51 near Siegerswoude, Friesland, The Netherlands. Evaded with the help of Dutch citizens until liberation by Canadian troops on 14 April 1945 in Oldeberkoop, Friesland. | |
Died |
7 August 1983 | ||
Born |
|||
Buried |
Revisions
Adding relative names that were not captured in the official reports, but referred to as 'unnamed farmer' with 21 year old daughter, 16 year old son and 7 year old twin girls.
NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 12704
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2959
SSDI
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12704 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list