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Personal info

Full name
WISE, Solomon I "Sol"
Date of birth
16 June 1909
Age
33
Place of birth
Newton, Newton County, Mississippi
Hometown
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
37135114
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Gunner
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
27 January 1943
Place of death
Harlingen, Terschelling, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Moses B. Wise (father)
Rebecca (Wilson) Wise (mother)
Milton Wise (brother)
Leon J. Wise (brother)
Helen Wise (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
41-23690
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the naval base
MACR: 15637

More information

S/Sgt Solomon I. Wise attended University City High School and was employed as secretary at Western States Auto Club.

The primary target as briefed was Wilhelmshaven in Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, it was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer in the Netherlands.

On the way back, the formation was attacked by Me 109s and FW 190s, numbering about 36. A few minutes later, at 1155 hours, the aircraft severely damaged an attacking FW 190 and apparently killed the pilot. This enemy aircraft then crashed into the left wing tip, tearing off the left wing as well as the tail assembly. The aircraft went into a flat spin and crashed into the rather shallow Wadden Sea, as did the FW.

No one was able to parachute and there were no survivors. Despite a large-scale search by both the Germans and Dutch, only the bodies of three American airmen were found and identified.

S/Sgt Wise is remembered at the United Hebrew Cemetery in University City, St. Louis County, Missouri.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Astrid van Erp, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1910 Census, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Chicago Tribune - 20 February 1943, www.findagrave.com, http://collections.mohistory.org/resource/770509