Lieut. Wilke Leads Air Attack on Japs
FORMER LOCAL YOUTH BRAVES FIERCE RAIDS
Flight Leader Aids in Jap Repulse at Indian Air Base.
In a dispatch from a United States air base in Northern India, Lieut. James V. Wilke, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wilke of this city, was named as one of the American fliers “who braved withering enemy machine gun and cannon fire” to take up planes during Japanese air attacks.
The American fighter pilots, of which Lieutenant Wilke is a flight leader, were credited with six confirmed victories, and four aircraft probably destroyed, and anti-aircraft crews made up on American and British gunners claim at least five more Jap attackers shot down and several badly damaged during three raids late last month.
Late Dispatch
The dispatch, considerably delayed, declared that the defenders of the air bases in Assam, northeastern most province of India bordering on Burma, at first believed that only five enemy planes had been definitely destroyed. Later reports have since come in from British tea planters and natives in the hills of wrecked Japanese planes found in the jungles.
Lieutenant Wilke has ben in the army air force two years, but has been overseas only for the past seven months. He received his preliminary training at Randolph and Brooks fields in Texas and was later transferred to Hamilton Field, Calif. Previous to his departure from the United States the flier was stationed at the Wilmington air base, Wilmington, N. C.
Ferried Planes
For some months before he went overseas, Lieutenant Wilke was engaged in ferrying United States bombers from California to an east coast port and on the return trip took planes from the east to the west coast.
Although no news has been received by his wife here for the past five weeks, the lieutenant may have been through his air victories celebrating the birth of a son at the Hamilton county hospital Oct. 29. Mrs. Wilke, the former Lois Forrester, had a cablegram dispatched to her husband the day their son was born, and she is sure he received the message.
Wilke, better known as Vernon to his many local acquaintances, is a graduate of Lincoln High school with the cass of 1934 and also a graduate of the local junior college.
Employed Here
Previous to his leaving for service, the lieutenant was employed at the Webster theater in the production room.
Lieutenant Wilke is the first local youth known to have seen action in the Indian theater of war. While stationed in Africa and in India he enjoyed almost story book reunions with his old friend Lieut. Ralph Butler and with his cousin Lieut. Frank Wilke.
In Somaliland
While flying over British Somaliland, Wilke’s plane developed engine trouble, and he was forced to land at a nearby base. He was astounded to discover that his chum Butler was stationed there as meteorologist and military attache.
Somewhat later, when his cousin Frank landed in India with a contingent of American soldiers, he discovered the aviator was stationed just three or four miles away. They reportedly had many good old get-togethers there in India.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Nov. 16, 1942
CAPTAIN’S RANK
Vernon Wilke, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Wilke of this city, has been promoted to the rank of captain according to word received here by his wife. Captain Wilke is a fighter pilot in the Indian war theater. He is also a flight commander. Captain Wilke has been in India for the past 13 months and has been mentioned in press dispatches as taking part in important air activities in that theater of war.
Source: Webster City Freeman, October 4, 1943
CAPT. J. V. WILKE KILLED IN PLANE CRASH
FIGHTER PILOT DIED JAN. 26 AT ACCRA, AFRICA
Widely Known Webster City Flier Overseas for 21 Months.
Captain James Vernon Wilke, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Wilke of this city, was killed in an airplane crash Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Accra in central Africa, his wife and parents were notified Friday morning by the war department.
The message sent by Adjutant-General Ulio stated that a letter with full details would follow.
On His Way Home
It was believed that Captain Wilke was on his way home for a leave after spending 20 months in air corps service overseas, most of it in the Indian theater of war. A letter written Dec. 31 and received here stated he was then at an Indian base, and reports from members of the air corps home on leave from that war zone, indicated that the Webster City flier might be in the next group of men to be accorded leaves.
Accra, a town of some 40,000 people is on the “Gold Coast” of British West Africa and the flier’s presence there would indicate he was enroute back to the U .S.
Captain Wilke served with a fighter squadron in India and was recommended for the Silver Star award for his leadership during a Jap aerial assault on Assam. At one time he served as squadron engineer officer and was also a flight commander.
Led Fighter Pilots
He was prominently mentioned in Associated Press dispatches as a leader of fighter pilots in allied attacks on Jap held Burma territory.
A graduate of the Webster City schools and Webster City junior college, Captain Wilke enlisted in the air corps Sept. 7, 1940, taking initial training in Missouri. He received his wings at Brooks Field, Texas, April 25, 1941, and for some time before being sent overseas was stationed at several fields in California.
Besides his parents and wife, the former Lois Forrester, he leaves one sister, Frances, and a 15-month old son, James Vernon, whom he had never seen.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, January 28, 1944
MEMORIAL FOR CAPT. WILKE
Services Sunday at Methodist Church; Lost in Crash.
A memorial service for the late Capt. James Vernon Wilke will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Methodist church with the Rev. J. J. Share in charge.
Captain Wilke, of the United States army air force, met his death Wednesday, Jan. 26 in the crash of a plane at Accra on the west coast of Africa.
A telegram received Wednesday by Mrs. Wilke from the war department, states that the plane crashed two minutes after the take-off and that all aboard were lost. The only other details the war department gave out were that he was given a military funeral and buried at Accra.
In response to a query from Mrs. Wilke, the department notified her that the body could be returned here, but not until after the war.
Relatives here believe Captain Wilke was aboard a transport, probably bound for home on leave. He had been serving in India. Transports usually carry a crew of nine.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Feb. 2, 1944
Military Rites on Thursday
Military services will be held here Thursday afternoon at 2:30 at the Foster funeral home for Capt. James Vernon Wilke of this city, who died in service Jan. 26, 1944. The Rev. L. D. Havinghurst of Fort Dodge will officiate with burial in Graceland cemetery.
Capt. Wilke was killed in an airplane crash at Accra in central Africa while on his way home for a leave after spending 21 months in air corps service overseas, most of it in the Indian theater of war. He served with the fighter squadron in India and was recommended for the Silver Star award for his leadership during a Jap aerial assault at Assam. At one time he served as squadron engineer officer and was also a flight commander.
The son of William and Lola Wilke, James Vernon Wilke was born Sept. 1, 1916 at Webster City, Iowa. A graduate of the Webster City schools and Webster City junior college, he enlisted in the air corps Sept. 7, 1940, taking his initial training in Missouri. He received his wings at Brooks Field, Texas, April 25, 1941, and for some time before being sent overseas was stationed at several fields in California.
On Jan. 6, 1942 he was united in marriage to Miss Lois Forrester and besides his wife, he is survived by one son, James Vernon, aged 5, his parents and one sister, Mrs. Ralph (Frances) Carlstrand of Los Angeles, Calif., and grandmother, Mrs. Della Staver, of Webster City.
In June of 1947 Mrs. Lois Wilke was presented the air medal and American defense service medal.
Capt. Wilke, during his service in this country and overseas, had also earned the American theater ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with one bronze star, World War II victory ribbon, the distinguished unit badge and the pilot’s aviation badge.
Baptized in the Methodist faith, Capt. Wilke was a member of the Webster City Methodist church.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - June 8, 1948
James Vernon Wilke was born Sept. 1, 1916 to Will G. and Lola Staver Wilke. He died Jan. 26, 1944 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com; World War II Memorial
