Gets Silver Star
GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS, Australia (AP)--Second Lt. Robert R. Wilson of 53 Forest
Avenue, Verona, was among 11 American Officers awarded the Silver Star today by Maj. Gen. George C.
Kenney, commander of Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific.
Wilson and two others of the 11 were in a Flying Fortress which struck hard at Rabaul August 12 in an
effort to cripple Japanese shipping being used in the Solomons. They blasted their way through a
protective screen of Japanese Zeros to reach the target area, fought off the Japanese pilots while they
loosed their bombs and held them at bay on the long journey to the home base. As a result of the action
they were credited with shooting down four Zeros in addition to sinking or damaging four ships.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wilson of Verona, parents of Lt. Wilson, were notified by the War Department
September 27 that their son had been missing in action since September 16. The associated Press
dispatch gave no indication of whether he had been found and was present to receive the Silver Star
today or it was awarded in absentia because he is still missing. The Wilson's have received letters
written by their son as recently as September 14 but have had no later word of him than the September
27 notice that he was missing.
Newark Evening News
October 16, 1942
GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS, Australia (AP)--Second Lt. Robert R. Wilson of 53 Forest
Avenue, Verona, was among 11 American Officers awarded the Silver Star today by Maj. Gen. George C.
Kenney, commander of Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific.
Wilson and two others of the 11 were in a Flying Fortress which struck hard at Rabaul August 12 in an
effort to cripple Japanese shipping being used in the Solomons. They blasted their way through a
protective screen of Japanese Zeros to reach the target area, fought off the Japanese pilots while they
loosed their bombs and held them at bay on the long journey to the home base. As a result of the action
they were credited with shooting down four Zeros in addition to sinking or damaging four ships.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wilson of Verona, parents of Lt. Wilson, were notified by the War Department
September 27 that their son had been missing in action since September 16. The associated Press
dispatch gave no indication of whether he had been found and was present to receive the Silver Star
today or it was awarded in absentia because he is still missing. The Wilson's have received letters
written by their son as recently as September 14 but have had no later word of him than the September
27 notice that he was missing.
Newark Evening News
October 16, 1942
| Vineland, NJ High School Class of 1935 |
| Robert R. Wilson ID: 0-430646 Entered the Service From: New Jersey Rank: First Lieutenant Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 30th Bomber Squadron, 19th Bomber Group, Heavy Died: Monday, January 07, 1946 Memorialized at: Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines Awards: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart |
| The goal of this project is to preserve the memory of these heroes and not let their stories be lost to history. Their sacrifices should be honored and their histories should be available to school children and adults to learn about the heroic Verona residents who came before them. It is vital that friends and family of these heroes be found, so that they may share pictures, service records, and other information to add to these stories. If you are a family member or friend of one of these heroes, or you know someone who is or may have additional information, please contact: Robert Caruso Heritage Preservation Associates Verona, New Jersey veronaheroes@heritagepreservation.us |
| This Website is maintained by Heritage Preservation Associates |
| Verona Hero |
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1st Lt. Robert R. Wilson
| Verona Residence: 53 Forest Avenue |
