Casey William Wilkins was born on March 28, 1917. He was the son of Jackson Casey Wilkins and Ella B. Wilkins. He served in the 584th Bomber Squadron, 394th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-26 Marauder #42-107667 nicknamed “Ginger II” during World War II.

On April 21, 1944, B-26 Marauder “Ginger II” took off from Station 161 Boreham Airfield, Essex, England, for a mission targeting the Bois d’Esquerdes V-1 site in the Pas-de-Calais region of France. At approximately 11:37 a.m., while flying near Remilly-Wirquin, about 10 km south of Saint-Omer, the aircraft was hit by German flak on the left engine, causing fatal damage. The bomber went down in the “Les Monts” area of Remilly-Wirquin, and while there was an attempt to abandon the aircraft, only part of the crew managed to get out before it crashed. Of the six crew members, five were killed in action, and one survived but was captured.

SSgt Wilkins was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net