Staff Sgt. Avis Kenneth Wilson
(9 Jun 1920 - 1 Aug 1943)

Crew Member of "Ole Kickapoo" - Ball Gunner

Avis Kenneth Wilson was born on 9 Jun 1920 in Roanoke, Virginia to Gladys Simpkins and Archie Davis Wilson.

United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: Radford City, Independent City, Virginia; Roll: 2474; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 4; Image: 530.0; 10 Apr 1930;
"Arch WILSON; Head; Male; White; 39 (~1891); Married; 26 (~1917); Virginia; Virginia; Virginia; Repairing; Pipe Shop;
Gladys Wilson; Wife; Female; White; 32 (~1898); Married; 19 (~1917); Virginia; Virginia; Virginia;
Eunice WILSON; Daughter; Female; White; 11 (~1919); Single; Virginia; Virginia; Virginia;
Avis WILSON; Son; Male; White; 9 (~1921); Single; Virginia; Virginia; Virginia."

United States World War II Army Enlistment Record, 1938-1946; "Name: Avis K Wilson; Birth Year: 1920; Race: White, citizen (White); Nativity State or Country: Virginia; State: Hawaii; Enlistment Date: 8 Jul 1941; Enlistment State: Virginia; Enlistment City: Roanoke; Branch: Air Corps; Branch Code: Air Corps; Grade: Private; Grade Code: Private; Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men); Source: Civil Life; Education: 4 years of high school; Civil Occupation: Motorcycle Mechanic or Packer, High Explosives (Munitions worker, ammunition. ) or Toolroom Keeper or Stock Clerk or Stock Control Clerk; Marital Status: Single, without dependents; Height: 67; Weight: 113."

Individual Casualty Questionnaire

U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945; "Name: Avis K Wilson; Gender: Male; Race: White; Religion: Protestant; Cemetery Name: Neuville-En-Condroz Permanent Cemetery, Belgium; Grave number: a 32 27; Disposition: Administrative Decision; Service Branch: Army; RANK: Staff Sergeant; Service number: 13035110."

WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings; "Name: Avis K. Wilson; Death Date: 1 Aug 1943; Cemetery: Ardennes American Cemetery; Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot A Row 32 Grave 27; Cemetery City: Neupre; Cemetery Country: Belgium; War: World War II; Awards: Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart; Title: Staff Sergeant; Rank: Staff Sergeant; Service: U.S. Army Air Forces; Service ID: 13035110; Division: 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy; Data Source: World War II Honor Roll."

American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - World War II Honor Roll; "Name: Avis K. Wilson; Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces; Service # 13035110; 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy; Entered the Service from: Virginia; Died: 1-Aug-43; Buried at: Plot A Row 32 Grave 27; Ardennes American Cemetery; Neupre, Belgium; Awards: Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart" (© ABMC photo and used with permission.)

The Library of Virginia; Military Records and Resources; Database of Virginia Military Dead; "Name: Wilson, Avis Kenneth; Conflict: WW2; Gender: M; Race: White; Listed Residence: (blank); County or City: Montgomery; Branch of Service: Army Air Force; Rank: Staff Sergeant; Cause of Death: Killed in Action; Place of Death: Rumania; More: Residence: Radford, City of; Gunner on B-24D Liberator (probably 42-40753, possibly 42-40155 or 42-40792); 389th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, Awarded Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal and Purple Heart; Lynchburg Foundry employee vol 6(1):29, 7(1):30, 9(1):9."

Received the Distinguished Unit Citation, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Staff Sgt. Avis Kenneth Wilson (9 Jun 1920 - 1 Aug 1943)

Crew Member of "Ole Kickapoo" - Ball Gunner

Staff Sgt. Avis Kenneth Wilson
(9 Jun 1920 - 1 Aug 1943)