Raymond Harrell Wilkins

Medal of Honor Recipient and B-25 Commander at Rabaul

At just 26 years old, with his B-25 Mitchell already badly damaged over Rabaul, Major Raymond Harrell Wilkins turned toward the guns of a Japanese heavy cruiser instead of trying to escape them. His final attack on November 2, 1943, cost him his life, but it drew enemy fire away from the other bombers of his squadron and helped them escape Simpson Harbor. For that extraordinary act of courage and self-sacrifice, Wilkins became one of the most highly decorated American airmen of the Southwest Pacific War and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Raymond Harrell Wilkins was born on September 28, 1917, in Portsmouth, Virginia. He enlisted in the United States Army in July 1936 at Langley Field, Virginia, beginning his military career as a private. During the next four years he performed a variety of squadron duties at Langley Field and Chanute Field, Illinois, where he attended the Air Corps Technical School. He was promoted to corporal in February 1940 and to staff sergeant seven months later. In March 1941, Wilkins finally moved toward the career he wanted most, flying. He trained at Parks Air College in Illinois and at Randolph and Kelly Fields in Texas, receiving his pilot rating and commission as a second lieutenant in October 1941.

After reaching Australia, Wilkins became part of the rapidly expanding American air effort in the Southwest Pacific. The official Air Force historical biography credits him with helping organize the 89th Bombardment Squadron of the 3rd Bombardment Group. His later combat record placed him with the 8th Bombardment Squadron, also of the 3rd Bombardment Group, Fifth Air Force. His combat tour began in March 1942, and he became an accomplished attack pilot in the brutal air war over New Guinea and New Britain. He was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1942, captain in February 1943, and major in October 1943. By September 1943 he was commanding the 8th Bombardment Squadron.

Wilkins's reputation was established early. His Silver Star citation, issued under Headquarters, Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, General Orders No. 18 of June 6, 1942, recognized his gallantry during four bombing raids against Japanese-held airfields in April 1942. Those attacks destroyed 17 enemy bombers and one fighter on the ground, while also damaging runways, buildings and other installations. The citation emphasized his determination, devotion to duty and composure under dangerous combat conditions.

His record only grew more remarkable. One of his Distinguished Flying Cross citations covered more than 50 operational missions between March 8, 1942 and March 16, 1943, including bombing, dive-bombing and low-level strafing attacks against enemy airfields, bases, shipping, naval forces, troops and supply routes. Three additional Distinguished Flying Cross citations document increasingly dangerous leadership missions. At Cape Gloucester on July 28, 1943, Wilkins led B-25s against an airfield and two Japanese destroyers after their fighter escort had been forced to turn back by bad weather. Despite heavy antiaircraft fire and enemy fighters, he scored direct hits on the destroyers and brought his bombers home while evading nine attacking fighters.

At Hansa Bay on August 28, 1943, Wilkins led a formation of 26 B-25s against Japanese shipping. He coordinated attacks by three squadrons, then led his own squadron through an additional attack under intense fire. His bombs struck a freighter-transport and another armed vessel, the latter exploding after being hit. Less than a month later, on September 27, he led nine B-25s against shipping at Victoria Bay and Kairiru Strait. Flying at mast height, Wilkins placed a bomb directly into a 3,000 to 4,000 ton merchant vessel, leaving it burning and sinking, then attacked additional shipping before gathering his damaged formation and leading it safely back to base. These actions formed part of the record for which he ultimately held four Distinguished Flying Crosses, represented by the original decoration and three bronze oak leaf clusters.

By the autumn of 1943, Wilkins had become one of the most experienced combat leaders in the 3rd Bombardment Group. On November 2, 1943, he took off on what would become his 87th combat mission, leading his squadron of B-25 Mitchells against Japanese warships in Simpson Harbor at Rabaul, New Britain. Knowing the strength of the Japanese defenses, Wilkins deliberately arranged the formation so that his own aircraft occupied a position of exceptional danger. Smoke over the target forced him to change the attack plan at the last moment, directing his squadron through concentrated antiaircraft fire. His B-25 was hit almost immediately and its right wing damaged, making the aircraft extremely difficult to control. Wilkins nevertheless continued the attack.

At low altitude he strafed harbor craft and attacked a Japanese destroyer, placing a 1,000-pound bomb amidships and causing the vessel to explode. Although his aircraft had suffered further damage, Wilkins maintained his course and attacked a transport of approximately 9,000 tons from below masthead height, scoring another hit that engulfed the ship in flames. With his bombs gone, he began leading his squadron out of the harbor. Then a heavily armed Japanese cruiser blocked their withdrawal.

Wilkins attacked again.

He turned his crippled B-25 toward the cruiser in a strafing run intended to suppress its guns and draw its fire away from the other aircraft. Enemy fire shot away his damaged stabilizer. As he maneuvered to avoid colliding with his wingmen, the bomber's underside and wings were exposed to the cruiser. More shells struck the aircraft, crumpling the left wing and leaving the B-25 uncontrollable. It crashed into the sea. Wilkins and his crew did not return. His official Medal of Honor citation concluded that he had destroyed two enemy vessels and that his self-sacrifice enabled the remaining aircraft of his squadron to withdraw safely.

The Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously in War Department General Orders No. 23, dated March 24, 1944. It was presented to Wilkins's family at Vandalia, Ohio, on December 1, 1944. By the end of his short combat career, official U.S. Air Force history credited him with 87 combat missions and 254 combat flying hours, as well as the Silver Star, four Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals in addition to the Medal of Honor. His loss in action also resulted in the Purple Heart.

Major Raymond H. Wilkins never returned from Rabaul, and his remains were never recovered. His name is commemorated at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, where the Walls of the Missing preserve the names of American servicemen whose remains were never recovered or identified. A memorial marker also honors him at Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Raymond Wilkins entered the Army as a private and died seven years later as a major and combat squadron commander. His rise through the ranks was remarkable, but his final mission explains why his name endured. Faced with the opportunity to protect himself or protect the men following him, Wilkins chose his squadron. That decision, made under the guns of Rabaul, became the defining act of a career built on courage, leadership and repeated willingness to fly directly into danger.