MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
Major Raymond H. Wilkins, U.S. Army Air Corps
Major Raymond H. Wilkins, U.S. Army Air Corps
On November 2, 1943, he led a formation of eight B-25s against enemy Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, New Britain. His airplane was hit almost immediately but he held fast and led his squadron into the attack. He strafed a group of small harbor vessels and then at low level, attacked an destroyed two enemy ships. With his damaged stabilizer completely shot off, he avoided swerving into his wing planes by deliberately exposing his B-25 to enemy fire. Past control, he and his bomber crashed into the sea. His self sacrifice made possible the safe withdrawal of the remaining planes of his squadron. It was his 87th combat mission. Body lost at sea, Remains never found.
