Charles E. (Charlie) Wilson was born in 1924 in Galion,
Ohio. He was raised in Louisville, Kentucky and lived
close to the airport where he spent a great deal of
time learning about flying.
On his 18th birthday, Wilson was accepted into the
US Air Force as a flying school recruit — an
achievement that pleased his father, who was also a
pilot. Wilson completed his certification and was stationed
in Europe.
He was involved in what is believed to be the first
successful rescue of a downed flyer behind enemy lines
during WWII, by a second aircraft. In 1944 Wilson and
his group had just been unhooked from escorting a formation
of B-24s back from a raid in Hungary. They were part
of a 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, based
out of Madna, Italy. Major James Tyler led the flight
of four to a rail marshalling yard.
After twenty minutes of strafing, they were low on
both ammo and fuel. Just as they were about to head
for home, one of them spotted a moving train and requested
permission to attack. One pass was approved. Wilson
hosed the cab area with his last 200 rounds of .50
caliber armor piercing incendiary bullets and the whole
locomotive blew up just as he arrived overhead. The
flying debris took out his coolant system and started
a huge fire. He zoom-climbed to 5000 feet with flames
from the engine fire coming back over the cockpit canopy.
He cut the switches and fuel off, rolled the canopy
back, unstrapped and swung one leg over the side. Just
as he was about to bail out, the fire blew out. Wilson
climbed back in and radioed to Lt. Straut that he intended
to force land as far away from the town as he could
glide. Just before
he landed he heard Maj. Exum respond, “I’ll
be down to get
you, Charlie!”
A few moments later Major Exum landed nearby. However,
there was a big drainage ditch in front of him and
his tail wheel was stuck in a rut. A group of mounted
enemy soldiers was already heading their way, shooting
at them. Wilson got back under the tail and heaved,
while Exum applied boots of power to the engine. Luckily
the tail came up and around, blowing Wilson about thirty
feet away! By now, their plane had three bullet holes!
Wilson climbed into the cockpit, returning fire with
his .45. He straddled Exum’s neck and away they
went, with Wilson 1/3 of the way out of the cockpit.
Exum destroyed Wilson’s aircraft with his remaining
ammunition. At 100 miles out and running on fumes,
the two decided they would risk it back to Madna instead
of landing in Yugoslavia. They made it back!
Major Exum was awarded a Silver Star for his heroism.
Wilson and Exum stayed in touch until Exums death.
According to Charlie Wilson, “If it weren’t
for Wyatt Exum, I probably wouldn’t be here,
nor would my six children and grandchildren. I am forever
indebted to him for that.”
Lt. Wilson completed 54 missions by the end of the
war, had one kill of a Bf-109. He joined the Air National
Guard and was recalled to active duty for the Korean
War. Wilson instructed on T-33s in Belgium and finally
retired as a Major. He currently lives in Orlando,
Florida and avidly attends his squadron’s reunions
every year.
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