WWII Aviators Memorial Dedication

The World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition will dedicate its WWII New Hanover County Aviators Memorial at the Hannah Block Historic USO on Monday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m.

Keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre (7th District, N. C.), Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, and New Hanover County Commissioners Chairman Jason Thompson will unveil the memorial along with WWII New Hanover County aviators Norman Davis and Buck Barden, and local aviation historian Anna Pennington.

Following the dedication, Rep. McIntyre, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, will report on national security issues and progress in obtaining veterans health clinics in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, and other veterans affairs news.

Fellowship and complimentary donuts and coffee will begin at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free and open to the public. The building is located at Second and Orange Streets in downtown Wilmington.

The memorial permanently recognizes and honors more than 120 known pilots, bombardiers, navigators, and other crewmen who flew for the Army Air Forces, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. At least 39 lost their lives in combat or aircraft accidents.

The aviators were County natives or residents upon entering the armed forces. All served the United States except two members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. All were male except Ann Kelley Watters of the notable Womens Air Force Service Pilots. All were white except Lt. Percy Heath, Wilmington’s member of the fabled African-American Tuskegee Airmen.

The memorial is installed in the lobby mini-home front museum of the City-owned, renovated, and restored wartime USO building, aka the Community Arts Center. It consists of a master list of the aviators; a case displaying models of their aircraft; computer punch-pads and flat screens where visitors can view information and pictures of the aviators and their aircraft; a hard-bound notebook with similar paper information; and plaques listing those who lost their lives, and donors.
County aviators flew in virtually every combat theater, including the Central and South Pacific, China-Burma-India, Atlantic, Mediterranean, North Africa, Europe, and Caribbean.

Numerous aviators received their services’ high awards for valor, including the Distinguished Service Cross or Navy Cross, and Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. For example: Two Wilmingtonians piloting SBD3 Dauntless dive bombers, Lt (j.g) Clarence Earl Dickinson and Ens. Carl David Peiffer, in the same squadron off the carrier USS Enterprise, received the Navy Cross (Peiffer’s awarded posthumously) for sinking the Japanese carrier IJN Kaga at the Pacific’s decisive Battle of Midway in June 1942.

Air Force aviators flew many of the war’s most famous aircraft, including the P-38 Lightning, P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang fighters. At least two aces had five or more enemy kills. Airmen flew historic bombers including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, and B-26 Marauder; CG4A gliders carrying airborne troops; and C-54/R5D Skymaster cargo/personnel aircraft.

Navy and Marine aviators flew from carriers and Pacific islands in famous fighters including the F4U Corsair and F6F Hellcat; the TBM Avenger torpedo plane; SBC2 Helldiver dive bomber; and PBY patrol plane.

Funds, materials, and other items for the memorial were donated. Construction was coordinated with the City.
Founded in 2000, the Coalition is an award-winning 501(c)(3) all-volunteer historic preservation organization whose mission is to identify, preserve, and interpret the rich WWII legacy of Southeastern North Carolina. The Coalition executive committee consists of chairman Capt. Wilbur Jones, USNR (Ret.), vice chairman Doris Ayers, and treasurer Jennifer Presnell.

For further information, contact Jones at 910-793-6393 or JonesWD@aol.com.