Willard Frederick Bankson
Military
media-401508.jpg
FRE 2764
First Lieutenant William Hegman talks to crew chief Technical Sergeant Willard Bankson of the 78th Fighter Group in front of a P-47 Thunderbolt before a night mission, October 1943. Passed for publication 28 Oct 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Thunderbolts - The Fly. Thunderbolts - The "Guardian Angels" Of Flying Fortresses. Here are pictures of Thunderbolts - P-47s, the famous American fighter planes, which escort Flying Fortresses on their daylight missions over Occupied Europe. Photo Shows:- Preparing for a bit of night flying is (right) 1st. Lt. William Hegman, Holly Bluff, Mississippi, veteran Thunderbolt P-47 fighter pilot stationde "somewhere in England." He is talking to crew-chief, T/Sgt. Willard Bankson, Pittsburg, Pa., about the conditions of the landing gear. Hegman, who has over sixty combat missions into Europe to his credit, posessess the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters. U.S. Pool/SG/H. Keystone 66.' On reverse: Keystone Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Roger Freeman Collection
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Assigned to 83FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF.
Awards: GC, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Pittsburg, CA | 13 April 1916 | Son of John Enoch and Mable E [Fotheringham] Bankson. |
Enlisted |
San Francisco, CA | 13 November 1940 | San Francisco, California |
Died |
Antioch, CA | 26 May 2005 | |
Buried |
Union Cemetery Brentwood, Contra Costa County, CA | 29 May 2005 | Union Cemetery Brentwood, Contra Costa County, California |
Based |
Duxford | Assigned to 83FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in DUXFORD DIARY book by Duxford Aviation Society