Wilma Thomas Caldwell, Jr. was born on March 10, 1921, in Cameron, Texas. He served in the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot on the B26 #41-34971 RU*Q "Pay Off" during World War II.
On August 22, 1943, the crew took off from Station 150 in Boxted, England on a mission to bomb enemy ground targets at Beaumont-le-Roger aerodrome in France. Their plane was shot by hunter Fw190 piloted by Uffz Ludwig Schollenberger at 7:03 PM which resulted in an engine being damaged and a fire, which involved the fuel tanks being started in the bomb bay. The plane was partially evacuated and after the fourth man had parachuted to safety, the plane exploded in midair and crashed 1km northeast of Brionne. 2 were Killed in Action (including 2Lt Caldwell), 2 were taken as prisoners, and 2 escaped.
2Lt Caldwell is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
B26 #41-34971 crew:
2Lt Wilma T. Caldwell - Pilot
2Lt Andrew Gowen Lindsay - Co-Pilot
2Lt Frank A. Schultz - Navigator
S/Sgt William Matthew Callahan - Mechanic/Machine Gunner
T/Sgt Clayton H. Burdick - Radio Operator
S/Sgt Edward C. Sharpe - Machine Gunner
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Wilma Thomas Caldwell, Jr. (ASN: 0-521569), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-26 Medium Bomber in the 554th Bombardment Squadron, 386th Bombardment Group (M), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 22 August 1943, against enemy ground targets at Beaumont le Roger, France. Shortly after the completion of the bombing run, the airplane piloted by Lieutenant Caldwell was attacked by an enemy fighter, which resulted in an engine being damaged and a fire, which involved the fuel tanks being started in the bomb bay. Faced with the imminent destruction of his crippled and almost unmanageable plane, subjected to the intense heat of the growing fire, and in spite of radio warnings from other pilots in his formation, Lieutenant Caldwell chose to remain at the controls of his ship, keeping it in a controlled glide in order to give his crew an opportunity to escape. After the fourth man had parachuted to safety, the plane exploded in midair. The gallantry displayed by Lieutenant Caldwell in sacrificing his life for his comrades is in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army and reflects reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net