Engage

Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Twitter
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
Logo
Facebook
2,596,225
Like Us
Twitter
753,181
Follow Us
YouTube Blog RSS Instagram Flickr

BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD WILSON

PRINT | E-MAIL

Donald Wilson was born in Hiner, W.Va., in 1892. He attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and entered federal service with the Maryland National Guard on June 19, 1916. He served as a corporal, sergeant, and supply sergeant, Company H, 5th Infantry, until Feb. 24, 1917. He re-entered the federal service with the Maryland National Guard on April 9, 1917, as a second lieutenant, 5th Infantry. He was promoted to first lieutenant, Maryland National Guard, on April 23, 1918, and was honorably discharged on Aug. 15, 1919. After approximately one year in his former position with the Survey Department, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, he was commissioned, in September 1920, a first lieutenant, Air Service, Regular Army (with rank from July 1, 1990).

His first experience with military activities was attendance at a Citizens Military Training Camp in the fall of 1915, at Saunders Range, Md. In February 1916, he enlisted in the 5th Regiment, Maryland National Guard. With the Maryland National Guard he served in federal service at Eagle Pass, Texas, on border patrol duty from June 1916 until February 1917. He re-entered the federal service in April 1917 with the 5th Maryland Infantry, which was reorganized into the 115th Infantry at Camp McClelland, Ala., in October 1917. He went to France in June 1918 and served with that regiment in the Vosges Sector from July through September 1918. He then volunteered for duty as an aerial observer with the Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces, and was assigned to the Air Service Replacement Concentration Barracks at St. Maxient, France.

As part of the aerial observation training, he attended the Field Artillery School at Camp De Souge, France; was assigned to the Air Service Observation School at Tours, France; and in December 1918 went to the II Corps Aeronautical School to complete training as an aerial observer. He graduated in December 1918, served as Adjutant of the school until assigned to the 186th Aero Squadron in May 1919, and joined the squadron at Weisenthurm, Germany, for duty with the American Occupation Forces in Germany. He returned to the United States in July 1919, and was honorably discharged the following month.

Upon being commissioned in the Regular Army in September 1920, he reported to Headquarters Third Corps Area, Baltimore, Md., for temporary duty, and in October 1920 was assigned to Post Field, Fort Sill, Okla., where he served as instructor in the Air Service Observation School. He was detailed to take the specific course for Aerial Observers at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, and from there he went to Carlstrom Field, Fla., in January 1922 for flying training.

The following June he was assigned to the Air Service Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, and graduated in January 1923 with the rating of Airplane Pilot and Aerial Observer. During this period he served in the dual capacity of student and instructor in the Observation Course. He then remained at Kelly Field for duty as instructor at the Air Service Advanced Flying School and as Squadron Commander until June 1924. He was then assigned to Office, Chief of Air Service, Washington, D.C. In August 1927 he went to Nichols Field, Philippine Islands, where he commanded the 2nd Observation Squadron until his return to the United States in December 1929 for service at Langley Field, Va., with the faculty of the Air Corps Tactical School.

In August 1930 he was assigned as a student officer in the course of the Air Corps Tactical School and graduated in June 1931. When the Tactical School moved to Maxwell Field, Ala., during the summer of 1931, he proceeded with the School to serve as an instructor until August 1934, when he was ordered to take the two-year course at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He graduated in June 1936 and placed on the General Staff Corps eligible list. He then returned to Maxwell Field, Ala., and served as Director of the Department of Air Tactics and Strategy at the Air Corps Tactical School until January 1940.

He transferred to Washington, D.C., for duty with the Plans Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps. In may 1941 he moved to the War Plans Division, War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C., and served in that capacity until December 1941, when he was appointed Chief of Staff, Third Air Force, with headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

Incident to the War Department reorganization in March 1942, he returned to Washington, D.C., for duty in the Personnel Division, G-1, of the War Department General Staff as Chief of the Officers' Branch. In June 1942 he became Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, of the War Department General Staff. In September 1942 he was assigned to the Southwest Pacific Area as Chief of Staff of the Allied Air Forces and Fifth Air Force, and served in that capacity until March 1944 when he returned via China, Burma, India, Egypt, Italy, Africa and England to the United States.

He was then assigned to Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., and appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. In October of the same year he became Assistant Chief of Air Staff in charge of Operations, Commitments and Requirements, same headquarters. his staff division was charged with numerous responsibilities, including the furnishing of personnel and airplane replacements to the overseas theaters. In the period of January to March 1945, he made a trip to Guam, Leyte, New Guinea and Australia, and took part in the assault of Iwo Jima as an observer for the Commanding General, Army Air Forces. In June 1945 he was assigned to command the Army Air Forces Center, Orlando, Fla., and the name changed to Air Proving Ground Command.

He is a rated Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.

His decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals.