Willard Frederick Bankson

Military
 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:- Prepar 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

Object Number - 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...

Assigned to 83FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF.





Awards: GC, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'
  • 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

Date
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

Willard Frederick Bankson: Gallery (1 items)