 |
| Harold Wright |
| |
| Current Address: |
|
611 Santa Rosita, Solana Beach, CA 92075 |
| |
| Email: |
|
|
| |
| Family Information: |
|
Wife: Miriam |
| |
| Hometown: |
|
Richmond, CA |
| |
| Date Entered Service: |
|
April 2, 1943 |
| |
| Service Number: |
|
39043177 |
| |
| Bomb Group: |
|
40th Bomb Group/505th Bomb Sq., 313th BW
|
| |
| Squadron: |
|
45th Bomb Squadron |
| |
| Location of Unit: |
|
West Field, Tinian |
| |
| Missions Flown: |
|
4 |
| |
| Hump Missions Flown: |
|
None |
| |
| Targets: |
|
Osaka, Hachiogi, Shikoku (POW supply) Tokyo (Fly over) |
| |
| Awards/Decorations: |
|
Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, Air Force Organization Excellence Award with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Bronze Service Stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Reserve Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal |
| |
| Service Schools Attended: |
|
Navigator Pre-flight School-Selman Field, LA Jul-Aug 1944; Precision Navigation School-Selman Field, LA Sep-Dec 1944; Staff Intelligence School-20th AF HQ, Guam Dec 1945-Jan 1946 |
| |
| Military Specialty(ies): |
|
MOS 1034-Navigator, MOS 9301-Intelligence Staff Officer |
| |
| Rank Upon Discharge: |
|
2nd Lieutenant |
| |
| Crew Type: |
|
Flight crew |
| |
| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
|
42-24737 Kagu Tsuchi (Flew on one training mission) |
| |
| Were you a POW? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Were you interned? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
|
October, 1945 |
| |
| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
|
August, 1974 |
| |
| Post-WWII Military Service: |
|
Recalled in Apr 1951 as an Instructor Navigator during Korean conflict. Served in many capacities in various locations until retiring from military service in September 1974 as Colonel USAF. (A complete military history is on file in the 58th Bomb Wing Memorial Office.)
When the Korean War began, Wright returned to active duty and served on the 54th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron and flew 77 missions.
During the Vietnam War, he served on the 8th Tactical Bomb Squadron (Yellowbirds) and flew 181 missions in B -57s.
This unit's missions ranged from highly secret bombing runs over North Vietnam and Laos to bombing runs against communist strongholds in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. During one of those sorties, his B-57 was struck by enemy groundfire and he and his pilot had to eject from the plane before it crashed. "His parachute got caught in the trees when he descended to earth," said Michael Rebaleati. "His chute got caught 200 feet aboveground and he kept the names of the men who rescued him that day."
|
| |
| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| 1951- Power Plant Installations, North American Aviation, Inglewood, CA; 1974-75 - Senior Scientist, Science Applications Inc., La Jolla, CA; 1975-2001 - Senior Scientist/Chief Scientist, Titan Corporation, San Diego, CA. |
| |
| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| 1. We learned as a crew to hang in there and not panic. 2. We learned that as a crew we depended on each other and that we supported each other - a special bonding. 3. We saw tragedy and we saw heroism. I think the combat experience made us mature early and showed us that we could attain our goals and dreams. I was very proud of my WWII service. |
| |
| Comments: |
|
Detailed descriptions of Harold Wright's combat missions available in 58th Bomb Wing Memorial Office.
Mr. Wright passed away December 30th 2007. |
 |
| The crew |
| |
 |
| Harold Wright |
|
