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Wilson (Charles Richard) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10159
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Charles Richard Wilson Personal Papers
creator:
Wilson, Charles Richard
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10159
Physical Description:
0.8 Cubic Feet
2 manuscript boxes
Date (inclusive): 1942-1953
Abstract: This collection contains materials from the personal collection of Charles Richard Wilson. Wilson was a pilot in the U.S.
Army Air Force during World War II. He was shot down over the North Sea and captured and held as a prisoner of war until his
camp was liberated at the end of the war. He was killed in an air accident off the Galapagos Islands in 1953.
Language of Material: English
Charles Richard “Chuck” Wilson was born in Missouri, 16 December 1921. He attended Citrus Junior College in the Los Angeles
area, majoring in mathematics. He worked at North American Aviation for a brief period before enlisting in the Army Air Corps
on 11 April 1942.
Wilson received a reserve commission on 29 April 1943. He flew a wide variety of aircraft during flight training, including
the BT-9B, BT-13A, BT-15, PT-17, AT-6A/C/D, AT-11, AT-23B. Later, he transitioned to the L-5, BC-1A, C-45F, P-39, P-40, P-51
and B-26. He received advanced training in the B-17F/G. The crew photograph shown above was taken during training in Tennessee.
Wilson is in the front row, second from the left.
His B-17G was hit by flak on his first bombing mission over Germany, on 16 February 1945, near Gelsenkirchen, located in the
northern part of the Ruhr Valley. Gelsenkirchen was a center for oil refining and coal production. They were able to drop
their bomb load on target, but, eventually, had to ditch over the North Sea. He was the co-pilot.
The crew survived, but was captured. Chuck Wilson was a POW in Stalag XIIID in Nuremburg, and Stalag VIIA in Moosburg. He
was liberated on 29 April 1945. He continued in active military service for a short period after World War II, serving as
a flight instructor, flight inspector and check pilot.
After separation from active service he flew a variety of small civilian aircraft, working as a corporate pilot, flight instructor
and technical advisor. He was killed in a crash at sea on 10 October 1953, off the coast of the Galapagos Islands, only 32
years of age. At the time he was flying a spotter plane for a fishing fleet. Chuck Wilson was a resident of San Diego, California.
The collection contains correspondence, official records and other notes from the personal collection of Charles Richard Wilson.
[Item], Charles Richard Wilson Special Collection, Archives, San Diego Air & Space Museum
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Secondary Sources:
Moyes, Philip J. R., “Boeing B-17G Flying fortress,” Oxford, England : Vintage Aviation Publications Ltd., 1979 - Call# UG
1242 ADI v.8
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family
Stalag VII A
Wilson, Charles Richard
United States. Army Air Forces