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Casualty Info
Home Town Chicago, IL
Last Address Skokie, IL
Casualty Date Dec 15, 1944
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Pacific
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - Manila, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates H 2 135
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
LT Russell Stover was a pilot in Bombing Squadron Twenty (VB-20), attached to the U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6). While conducting air operations against the enemy installation on Luzon, Philippine Islands, Lt Russell's plane came under attack from anti-aircraft fire. While withdrawing from the target area, his plane was hit by a 40-mm. shell which entered the pilot's cockpit from below and exploded in the plane. He received a large wound in his upper right leg which bled profusely and, in the opinion of the Air Group Medical Officer, suffered severe internal injury. After gaining some 8,000 feet of altitude and traveling approximately 70 miles Lieutenant Wilcox started a glide and ultimately made a water landing. ARM2 Walter Frierson managed to get the wounded pilot into a life raft, but the lieutenant died from his wounds before they could be picked up by a recovery team.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 0098756
Navy Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Russell Stover Wilcox (NSN: 0-98756), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron TWENTY (VB-20), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during action against units of the Japanese Fleet in waters west of the Central Philippine Islands during the Battle for Leyte Gulf on 24 October 1944. Flying as wingman on a search and attack mission when an enemy task force was sighted and his division was assigned the Japanese battleship MUSASHI as a target, Lieutenant Wilcox defied the withering barrages of anti-aircraft fire to dive low over the hostile warship and release his bombs at perilously low altitude to score direct hits which started fires and contributed materially to the infliction of extensive damage on the Japanese vessel. His superb airmanship, inspiring courage and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Wilcox and the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 035 (January 20, 1945) Action Date: October 24, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Company: Bombing Squadron 20 (VB-20) Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Navy Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Russell Stover Wilcox (NSN: 0-98756), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Bomber in Bombing Squadron TWENTY (VB-20), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6). This squadron was assigned the mission of conducting air operations against the enemy installation on Luzon, Philippine Islands, while assigned to a Task Group operation under Commander, Second Carrier Task Force, Pacific Fleet. Lieutenant Wilcox was leading a section of bombers in an attack on Clark Field, Manila, Philippine Islands on 15 December 1944. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, he pressed home his attack, scoring direct hits on a small wooded area reported as concealing parked enemy aircraft. While withdrawing from the target area, his plane was hit by a 40-mm. shell which entered the pilot's cockpit from below and exploded in the plane. He received a large wound in his upper right leg which bled profusely and, in the opinion of the Air Group Medical Officer, suffered severe internal injury. He was observed by two accompanying fighter pilots to leave our formation. Assuming him to be in trouble and heading to sea, they flew alongside. They could see him slump in his seat from time to time, when the plane would go temporarily out of control. After gaining some 8,000 feet of altitude and traveling approximately 70 miles Lieutenant Wilcox started a glide and ultimately made a water landing. During this time his aircrewman (Frierson, Walter Duncan, 5561270, ARM2c, V-6, USNR) was unable to communicate with the pilot and assumed the radio to be out of commission. It was not until Frierson had launched his raft and went to the forward cockpit that he realized the situation. He succeeded in getting the pilot into the raft and administered first aid. By this time the bleeding had stopped, however and Lieutenant Wilcox was breathing with difficulty. He asserted his desire to save Frierson's life and then died, some 15 minutes before the arrival of a rescue plane which had been summoned by the fighter pilots. Action Date: December 15, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Company: Bombing Squadron 20 (VB-20) Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Russell Stover Wilcox (NSN: 0-98756), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against enemy forces on 10 and 12 October 1944. On each of these two occasions, he pressed home his dive bombing attack on an enemy cargo vessel at Okinawa Jima and at Formosa, in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from enemy vessels and shore batteries. Both ships caught fire and sank. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0513 (December 20, 1944) Action Date: October 10 & 12, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Company: Bombing Squadron 20 (VB-20) Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Western Caroline Islands Operation/Battle for Ulithi Atoll
From Month/Year
September / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description Ulithi Atoll, also known as the Mackenzie Islands is a coral atoll in the Yap Islands, the western part of the Carolines. There are some 40 islets withn a total land area of 1.75 square miles (4.5 square km). It is located about 190 km east of Yap. The atoll’s inhabitants are probably of mixed Polynesian and Micronesian origins and speak Ulithian, an Austronesian language. It is one of the greatest natural harbors in the world. Ulithi appears to have been first sighted by Portuguese navigators (1526). No other record exists until Spanish Jesuit missionaries led by Juan Antonio Cantova landed (1731). Along with rest of the Carolines, the Germans purchased it from the Spanish and Japan seized it during World War I. After the War, the League of Nations awarded a mandate to the Japanese. The Japanese made little use of Ulithi, but did site a seaplane base there. They had a radio and weather station on Ulithi and the Imperial Navy had occasionally used the lagoon as an anchorage. The United States used it very differently. The Pacific Fleet at first avoided landinfs in The Carolines. What they wanted was the Marianas to the north wherevair bases could be used to bomb the Japanese Home Islands. Japanese garrisons in the Carlines, luke Truk, were neutralized rather than invaded, avoiding costly landings. As the Americans moved west toward the Philippines, it became obvious that a forward supply base was needed. Naval planners bgan asessing Ulithi. The Japanese who has established garison all over the Central Pacific, somehow failed to perceive the vast strategic importance of Ulithi. The atoll with its magnificent harbor was precisely what the pacific Fleet needed for its operations in the Western Pacific. The decisive Japanese defeat in the Battle of the Philippines Sea meant that the Pacific Fleet faced no naval opposition (June 1944). The Japanese withdrw to bases west of the Philippines and the Home Islands and began tom plan a naval battle to resist the anticipated American invasion of the Philippines. More surprising, the Japanese did not garrison Ulithi Atoll. A regiment of the US Army's 81st Division landed unopposed (September 23, 1944). A regiment of the US Army's 81st Division landed unopposed (September 23, 1944). They simply walked ashore and took possession of the Atoll. It was a gift of unimaginable value, a starategic prize that would play an important role in the final phase of the Pacific War. Tragically, the Americans and Japnese in the same month would fight an extended pitched battle for Pelilu in the Palaus, another chain in the Carolines of virtually no value. A battalion of Seabees followed. While a magificent natural harbor, it was totally undeveloped. The survey ship USS Sumner) assessed the lagoon and concluded it was capable of accomodating an stonishing 700 vessels. This was more than Pearl Harbor and then Majuro after the seizure of the Marshalls could handle. The Pacific Fleet rapidly turned it into the major supply base for major operations in the last year of the War (the Philippines and Okinawa). This was done with little publicity, but the Japanese eventually found out what they had conceded to the Americans without a fight. Japanese midgit subnarines attacked islamd in the harbor, but despite their success had no real impact on the supply operations there. After the War, Ulithi was used as a military radio outpost.
