671st BS Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

S/Sgt. Harley James Wilds

Airplane Armorer - Gunner,  37115854

Prisoner Of War

671st Bombardment Squadron (L)

WWII-Medal

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  Born: 14-Jan-1916, Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana

Entered Military Service: Date: 3-Mar-1942 At: Forest City, Iowa

POW summary:
Fail to Return Date: 29-Sep-1944
Captured: 29-Sep-1944 16:00, Near Juelich
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16
Return Date: 13-May-1945
NARA WW II POW Data File Latest Report Date: 4-Jul-1945
NARA WW II POW Data File ID: 138646 / (PDF)

Died: 8-May-1969, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida

On-line Memorials:
National World War II Registry
Find-A-Grave



MACR 9275 Details



Notes:
A/C loss Information not available. Lost as a result of Enemy Anti-Aircraft. Nickname of A/C: "Snooks"

Description:
Three planes, all from the 671st Bomb Sq (L), were knocked down, and almost simultaneously, at the target. All three were in the same flight. ... The plane piloted by Lt R.W. York with Staff Sergeants L.A. Ashton and H.J. Wilds as gunners was seen at the target, diving and losing altitude.
(416th BG History 1944)

See also Mission # 149




Photos and Documents
1920 US Census
1925 IA Census
1930 US Census
WW II Draft Registration
29-Oct-1940
WW II Draft Registration
29-Oct-1940
Induction Record
Harley Wilds and Mates
Harley Wilds and Mates
Harley Wilds and Turkey
Josephine and Harley Wilds
Josephine and Harley Wilds
Josephine & Harley Wilds with Sylvia
Harley and his Mother
Harley Wilds
Pillow
Off to War
Harley J Wilds
Harley J. Wilds
Harley J. Wilds
L-R: SSgt Lewis A. Ashton (Gunner), 1Lt Robert W. York (Pilot) and SSgt Harley J. Wilds (Gunner)
Date: 22-Feb-1944, 411th Bomb Group (L), Replacement Training Unit, Florence Army Air Field, South Carolina
SSgt Harley J. Wilds
Douglas A-20G-35-DO, S/N: 43-10165, 5C-H, "Snooks"
Douglas A-20G-35-DO, S/N: 43-10165, 5C-H, "Snooks"
Map of Germany during the War showing Wilds POW journey from when he was captured (near Julich, where his plane was shot down, far left) to Stalag Luft IV (far right). Map created by Gary Rensner.
MACR Capture document
37_Dulag-Luft POW Card
Registration of Foreigners and German Persecutees
War Department Letter
War Department Update Letter
Battle Casualty Report
Newspaper Article
1944
Newspaper Clipping
The Tampa Times
12-Jun-1945
Newspaper Clipping
The Tampa Times
12-Jun-1945
Newspaper Clipping
Pensacola News Journal
13-Jun-1945
Newspaper Clipping
The Tampa Tribune
06-Jul-1945
Newspaper Clipping
Pensacola News Journal
07-Jul-1945
Wilds Family. L-R back row: Vilma, Della, Sam and Sylvia. L-R front row: Horace, Hershel, Harley and Harold.
Harley Wilds
FL Divorce Index
POW Affidavit
Purple Heart Affidavit
Newspaper Clipping
The Dothan Eagle
06-Jan-1947
FL Divorce Index
Veteran Compensation Application
Veteran Compensation Application
Headstone
Headstone
Headstone
Service Record
Headstone Application
Headstone Application
WW II Honoree
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Request
Posthumous POW Medal Presentation Statement
Posthumous POW Medal Citation
Posthumous POW Medal
Posthumous POW Plaque
 
 
 
 
 
 




See also:
"CONNECTIONS AND A SHARED MISSION"
By Kathe Rensner in Collaboration with Joseph Wilds,
2020 Friends of the 416th Bomb Group Newsletter
(PDF pages 27-32)

Halley-Howard Family Photo Album
Genealogy for Harley James Wilds Sr. and Family Photos
.


See Also:
Prisoner Of War (POW) Camps
Escape & Evasion (E&E) Reports
POW/E&E Terms and Acronyms
POW/E&E Sources, References, Resources