John Thomas Wilson

John T. Wilson was six feet tall, of slender to medium build, blonde, blue-eyed, with fair complexion. He enjoyed working outdoors, and thus found his eventual career working in the southern states agreeable. After his childhood and teenage years during the Great Depression, living on farms and helping his father and grandfather at work in the sawmill and at oil drilling, he married his high school sweetheart from a nearby farm. He served in WWII, mainly as a POW, and afterward lived a very mobile life building power lines for TVA - the Tennessee Valley Authority. His later TVA years and retirement were spent in Scottsboro, Alabama.
(See Complete Biography)

	Date	Location	Notes	Sources
Birth	10 Nov 1917	Worth Twp., Butler Co. PA
Marriage	2 Feb 1940	Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA	To Ella May Beals
Military	19 Jan -17 May 1945 Europe	WWII Army Airforce, Cpl. B17 tail gunner, 483 Bombardment Group, 815 Squadron, based in Foggia, Italy	caputred near Lenti, Hungary; POW, Austria & Germany
Death	18 May 1985	VA Hospital, Birmingham AL
Burial	22 May 1985	Nickleville Presby. Cemetery, Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA

 Generation 1               Generation 2             Generation 3
 
                                                 +-- Bert Winiford Wilson
                                                 |   (1891-1971)             
                        +-- John Thomas Wilson --+
                        |   (1917-1985)          |
 Elizabeth Ann Wilson --+                        +-- Clara Mabel Wimer
 (1943- )               |                            (1891-1944)
                        +-- Ella May Beals
                            (1917- )
 Sources: 

Children

(2 daughters with Ella May Beals)

Name	Gender	Date of Birth	Birthplace	Spouse	Notes	Sources
Elizabeth Ann Wilson	F
living Wilson	F

Places of Residence

Location	Dates	Notes	Sources
Birth & Early Years
Worth Twp., Butler Co. PA	b.1917-~1930	with parents
Nickleville, Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA	~1930 - 1938	high school in Emlenton, work with REA during Great Depression
OH, NC	1938-1940	line work for REA or private power companies
Early Marriage
Laurens, SC	14 Feb 1940 - late spring	line construction, REA/ Miller Baxter
Polk, Sandy Creek Twp., Venango Co. PA	1940	REA or private power companies
Cornelius, SC; Lexington & Madison, NC	Oct 1940-1941	REA or private power companies
Ellwood City, Lawrence Co. PA	late summer 1941	helped a cousin build a house
Monks Corner, SC	1941-42	REA or private power companies; leased Green Gables Cafe & gas station for 10 wks, $1000 profit	Green Gables Cafe, Monks Corner, SC, April 1942
Smyrna, NashvilleTN Gallatin TN ("Green River Line"), Scottsville TN; Glasgow, Newport KY; Kingsport TN (Nov 42- Mar 43)	1942	Bought 1st trailer worked for REA or private power companies, Holston Defense in Kingsport; laid off in March
Pittsburgh, PA	Spring 1943	private employer, not recorded
Military Training	14 Aug 1943, drafted
Greensboro NC	Aug 1943-?
Greenville SC	by Christmas 1943- 1944	Furman Univ.; accelerated officers training; entire class "washed out"
Midland TX	1944, after Mar	training as tail-gunner
Alexandria LA	1944, including Dec	training
Lincoln, NB	1944, including Dec	for shipment overseas
Military Service, WWII	14 Aug 1943, drafted
Camp Patrick Henry, VA	19 Jan 1945	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Patrick_Henry
Gibraltar	5 Feb 1945
Algiers, N. Africa	8 Feb 1945
Naples, Italy	12 Feb 1945
Foggia, Italy	17 Feb 1945	base of operation, 483 Bombardment Group, 815 Squadron Pilot, Harvey A. Mitchell
Lenti, Hungary	14 Mar 1945	taken POW
Bratislava	19 Mar 1945	POW
Vienna, Austria	20 Mar 1945	POW
Nurenberg, Ger.	22 Mar 1945	POW
marching, location unrecorded	23 Mar 1945	POW
Nurenberg, Ger.	25 Mar 1945	POW
Moosburg, Ger.	20 Apr 1945 ; Liberation 29 Apr 1945	POW (camp history website) (Wikipedia's Stalag VII-A site), (description of the events surround the liberation itself) ( 1 May 1945 NY Times Moosburg Prison Camp Liberation)
Landshut, Ger.	4 May 1945
Reims, France	6 May 1945
St. Vallery, France	17 May 1945
Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA	1945-1948	Depression Era persisted; worked in brother-in-law's garage in Emlenton; lived with Beals in-laws, then rented Joe Rose house, Mariasville

The following chart serves as a record of the work career of John T. Wilson with TVA; an indication of school locations for his daughters; and a guide to dates/locations for some of the photographs. Locations in parentheses indicate additional work locations while in one residence location. In 1967 he was working with the Rubin R Rubinson/Robinson crew, TVA Western Division, per wedding card to daughter Elizabeth.

TVA Career Location	Dates	Landlords	Sources
Russelville, AL	4-28 Feb, 1948	Edward Pace
Wilson Dam, AL	28 Feb-8 Apr 1948	Dempsey Terry
West Point, MS	8 Apr-12 Apr 1948	Goat's Texaco Sta.
Mayfield KY	12 Apr - 9 May 1948	Richard Bagwell
Paris TN	17 May-13 June 1948	Dave Oliver
Mayfield KY	12 June-2 July 1948	Mrs. Cleve Sanderson
Mountain City TN	3 July-20 Aug 1948	Alf McQueen
Mt. Pleasant TN	21 Aug - 20 Sept 1948	Mrs. Ethel Simmons
Murfreesboro TN	20 Sept - 23 Oct 1948	Otto Green
Woodbury TN	23 Oct -11 Dec 1948	Joe Stephens
McMinville TN	11 Dec - 17 Jan 1948/49	Roy Newby
Nashville TN	17-21 Jan 1949	Pure Oil Sta.
Chattanooga TN	21-24 Jan 1949	Farniers Trailer Pk , Cherokee Blvd.
Knoxville TN	24 Jan - 2 Mar 1949	King's Grocery, Southerland Ave
Lenoir City TN	2 Mar - 16 Ma6 1949	C. E. Brachett
Elizabethton TN	16 May - 4 June 1949	Mrs. Bowen
Nashville TN	4 June - 25 July 1949	E. G. Davenport
Jackson TN	30 July - 19 Nov 1949	Mrs. W. B. Ranson
Cadiz KY	19 Nov - 29 Jan 1949/50	White Eagle Cafe
Memphis TN	29 Jan - 9 Feb 1950	Harbin's Cabins, Hwy 51
Tupelo MS	9 Feb - 11 Mar 1950	Rockway Inn, Hwy 45
West Point MS	11 Mar - 1 Apr 1950	Goat's Texaco St.
Tupelo MS	1 Apr - 27 May 1950	Rockway Inn, Cecil Cafe
Corinth MS	27 May - 3 July 1950	Randolph Yancy, 1411 Wick St.
Jackson TN	3 July - 15 July 1950	Mrs. W. B. Ranson
New Johnsonville/Camden TN	15 July - 18 July 1950	J'ville Trailer Pk
Jackson TN	19 July - 24 July 1950	Mrs. W. B. Ranson
Macon MS	24 July - 16 Dec 1950	Mrs. M. B. McLemore
West Point MS	16 Dec - 15 Jan 1950/51	Goat's Texaco Sta.
Somerville TN	15 Jan - 19 May 1951	H. G. Myers tourist home
Memphis TN	19 May - 15 June 1951	J. C. Harbin's, Rt. 51
Jackson TN	15 June - 24 July 1951	Mrs. W. B. Ranson
Lexington	24 July - 16 Aug 1951
Jackson TN	16 Aug-7 Sept 1951	Mrs. W. B. Ranson
Benton KY	23 Sept - 23 Feb 1951/52	Herman Kanatzer
Fulton KY (McKenzie, Martin,)	23 Feb - 31 May 1952	Star Cafe, Hwy on state line
Benton KY	31 May - 16 Oct 1952	Ben Hunt, Rt.3 (till 16 Sept) Will Eggner, Mrs. Farmer
Jackson TN (Lexington, Union City)	16 Oct- 6 June 1952/53	Mrs. W. B. Ranson
Tupelo MS	6 June - 8 July 1953	Rockway Inn
West Point MS	8 July - 1 Sept 1953	T.J. Earnest, Prairie Jct.
Louisville MS	1 Sept - 14 Nov 1953	Millers Trailer Pk, Mrs. Elva Roberts
Pontatoc MS	14 Nov - 2 Jan 1953/54	Houston & Jack ? (illegible), across from Jerry's Drive In
Corinth MS (& Tiptonville)	2 Jan - 30 May 1954	Horton Groc.
Waverly TN	30 May - 21 Aug 1954	Wm. "Plunk" Gould
Dickson TN	21 Aug - 27 Oct 1954	Ludy & Lorraine ___
Bolivar TN	27 Oct - 2 Jan 1954/55	foster Motel, Elgie & Inez
Russellville AL	2 Jan - 23 Feb 1955	Bendix Standard Sta.
Holly Springs MS	23 Feb - 18 Mar 1955	LaFever Holly Courts
Covington TN	18 Mar - 7/8 Apr 1955	Mrs Adams (with Ruth & Dan Price)
Sheffield AL	9 Apr - 21 June 1955	Tri-Cities Trailer Ct.
Huntsville AL	21 June - 2 July 1955	Whispering Pines
Benton KY	2 July - 20 July 1955	Mrs. Eggner
Huntsville AL	24 July - 7 Aug 1955	Mrs. Williams, 401 McKinley
Russellville AL	7 Aug - 3 Dec 1955	M. H. McMurray Cafe
Athens AL	3 Dec - 10 Mar 1955/56	Old Spinning Wheel Motel, .Mitchell Wallace
Sheffield AL	10 Mar - 21 July 1956	Walter Kelly, 1701 High St.
Scottsboro, AL	22 July 1956 - retirement after Sept.1967-1970	Hwy 72 ponds & bait shop
Scottsboro, AL	after retirement; died 1985	built house on Hwy 72

Photo Gallery

1936 high school graduate

31 July 1936, age 19

31 July 1936

20 July 1937, age almost 20

John & Ella Wilson at Beals farm, 1940

John & Ella Wilson ~1940

1940 at New River, SC

1941

with daughter Betsy, possibly Kingsport TN

Fathers Day, June 1943

John with Betsy, 1943 at Bert & Clara Wilson farm, Nickleville, Venango Co. PA

14 Aug 1943, day of swearing-in; with dau. Betsy and nephews John & Jim Vergis

Oct 1943 Greensboro NC

3 June 1944, Greenville SC

John Wilson at right, back row, with crew of B-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber
(Click photo for names)

in training, 1944

1944, 1st trailer, at Beals farm

~1945; lesson in "rub your tummy, pat your head"

at Bert Wilson farm, ~1946-47

1948, new trailer for trip south; l. to r. Ray Wilson, Ella and John Wilson

John T. Wilson in work khakis & TVA badge, ~late 1950's

Christmas ~1949-50

with beard grown for 1954 centennial, Corinth MS

weekly cookout, ~1959, at the minnow ponds, Scottsboro, AL

with Joubert, mid-1970's, log house in Scottsboro

Russ, John, Allene & Ruth, ~1984, during John's final illness

Sources

1	1920 United States Federal Census, Worth Township, Butler County, PA, Enumeration District 66, Page 7, lines 84-88 lists Bert W. Wilson, 28, married to Clara M. Wilson, 28. Their daughter, Ruth M. Wilson, 7, and two sons, Edwin D. Wilson, 4, and John T. Wilson, 2 years and one month, are listed as well. Bert is listed as having been born in PA. His profession is listed as "Laborer" on a rented farm. His census record is immediately followed by that of his father, James L. Wilson, suggesting that they lived on adjacent property. This census page is dated 23 and 24 January 1920.
2	1930 United States Federal Census, Richland Township, Venango County, PA, Enumeration District 61-40, Page 6, lines 65-73 lists Birt W. Wilson, 39, married to Clara M. Wilson, 38. They live with six children and a live-in farm laborer: daughter Ruth M. Wilson, 17; son Edwin D., 15; son John T. Wilson, 12; son Russel W. Wilson, 9; son Ray B. Wilson, 6; daughter Allene N. Wilson, 3 years and 10 months; and laborer Lester Lawrence, 43. When Birt W. Wilson and Clara M. Wilson got married, he was 20 and she was 19. All of the children except Allene attended school within the census year. Everyone but Allene can read, write, and speak English. Everyone and their parents were born in PA. Birt W. Wilson's occupation is listed as "Farmer." This census page is dated April 15th, 1930.
2A	1940 United States Federal Census, Laurens Twp., Laurens Co. SC, date of census 2-3 April 1940. Line 34: John Wilson, Lodger (with 19 others in apparent boarding house of Lou Bell Walker), married, age 22, finished 4 yrs high school, born PA. On Apr. 1 1935 place of residence: Nickleville, Venango Co. PA. Working; worked 31 hrs. during week of Mar. 24-30, 1940. Truck Driver for REA (Rural Electrification Administration). Weeks worked in 1939: 40 weeks; income in 1939 $750. No other income source.
3	Memoirs of Ella May Beals (Wilson) ,wife of John T. Wilson, including the WWII training locations, and listing of TVA locations & landlords.	N/A
4	Research manuscript of John T. Wilson, family history compiled by 1985, from family interviews, family records, Slippery Rock borough centennial history & Butler County histories. This manuscript transferred to daughter Elizabeth Wilson Williams in 1984.
5	WWII war record written on souvenir wooden shoe by John T. Wilson, now in the collection of grandson Richard Brady Williams. The inscription (in graphite) includes dates & places stationed & imprisoned during his war service
6	Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams, daughter of John T. Wilson, including transcription of WWII service locations and dates from the wooden shoe, and family photographs. Personal recollection includes living on the Beals farm in Venango Co. PA, the TVA locations, and high school in Scottsboro AL. Her notes include John T. Wilson's war stories and his descriptions of his early life in Butler Co. PA.	N/A
7	National Archives World War II Prisoners of War Data File 12/7/1941 - 11/19/1946 has an entry dated 14 Mar 1945 for Sergeant John T Wilson, serial number 33682366, of the Army Air Corps. He is listed as a member of Heavy Bomber unit 0483 in the European theater: Hungary. He is listed as "returned to military control, liberated, or repatriated" as of the "latest report date" of 17 Oct 1945. The detaining power was Germany. [1]	N/A
8	National Archives Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946 has a record for John T. Wilson, serial number 33682366. His residence is Venango County, PA. He enlisted in Erie, PA on 30 Jul 1943. His rank at enlistment was Private. He was born in 1917 in PA. He is listed as having had 4 years of high school education. His occupation code (553) indicates "skilled linemen and servicement, telegraph, telephone, and power." He is maried. The record is stored in box #0694, film reel #1.211. [2]	N/A
9	Missing Air Crew Report dated 16 Mar 1945 from the Army Air Corp indicates that John T. Wilson was on board B-17G serial number 42-32017 on 14 Mar 1945 at 15:00 when it went missing for unknown reasons. The last known position was N45° 10' E16° 50' [southeast of Zagreb, present-day Croatia]. The aircraft was part of the 15th Airforce, 483rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 815th squadron (Heavy), based at Steparone, Italy. It had been on a combat bombing mission with the target of Almasfuzito oil refinary, Hungary. There were 10 persons on board at the time including pilot Harvey A. Mitchell, copilot James Sutton, navigator Roy Broome Jr., toggler John Nelson, top turret gunner Harold G. M. Strunk, left waist gunner Amburse J. Triplett Jr., radio gunner Mathew [sic] F. Thompson, ball turret gunner August D. Winnega, right waist gunner William F. Wilson, and tail gunner John T. Wilson. John Wilson's serial number is listed as 33682366. His rank is Sergeant. His current status is Missing In Action (MIA). His next of kin is listed as Mrs. Ella Wilson, Wife, of Rt. 1, Box 137, Emlenton, PA.
10	Hereos of the 483rd, pgs. 173-174, book with crew profiles of most (all?) air crews within the 483rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) during World War II. There is a two page section on the Harvey A. Mitchell crew that lists John T. Wilson as the tail gunner of B-17 #42-32017, "Sweet 17." They took a flak hit in the #3 engine on their first flight while over the target area of Almasfuzito, Hungary, and were forced to bail out. The crew were all taken prisoner on the same day but were reunited the following day at a POW collection point. John's hometown is listed as Emlenton, PA.	transcript
11	Social Security Death Index for John Wilson, last residence 35768 Scottsboro, Jackson, Alabama. He was born on 10 Nov 1917 and died in May 1985. His SSN was issued in PA before 1951.	N/A
12	Funeral Program, John T. Wilson from collection of Margaret Kahle. John T. Wilson b. 10 Nov 1917 d, 18 May 1985 Services at Criswell-Gardinier Funeral Home. Interment at Nickleville Cemetery. Rev. Darrell K. Knopp officiating note: Rev. Knopp was pastor at Nickleville Presbyterian Church
13	Obituary of John T. Wilson, from the collection of Peg Kahle. Oriinal source not given, probably Oil City Derrick. John T. Wilson, age 67, brother of three area residents, died at 4:47 am Saturday at the VA Hospital in Birmingham, AL. He had resided for 35 years in Scottsboro, AL. Born 10 Nov 1917 at Slippery Rock, the son of Bert W. and Clara Wimer Wilson. A veteran of World War II, having served in the Army Air Corps. He was a prisoner of war in the European Theater. Employed as a foreman for the Tennessee Valley Authority for 45 years. Member of Nickleville Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed gardening, carpentry and hunting. Surviving are two daughters: Mrs. Brady (Elizabeth Ann) Williams of St. Paul MN and Mrs. John (Carolyn Lucille) Harris of Florence AL; three brothers: Edwin D. Wilson of Las Vegas, NV; Russell W. Wilson of Oil City and Raymond B. Wilson of Fredonia, PA; two sisters: Mrs. Ruth McClelland of Franklin and Mrs. William (Aileen M.) Heeter of Kennerdale; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister. Services at Criswell-Gardinier Funeral Home 11 am Wednesday with Rev. Darrell Knopp of Nickleville Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment at the Nickleville Cemetery. Margin notes by Mrs. Kahle: 18 May 1985.
14	Missing-in-Action report-John T. Wilson, from collection of Peg Kahle. Original source not given. "In a message from the War Department, Mrs. Ella B. Wilson, of Emlenton R.D.1, has been informed that her husband, Sgt. John T. Wilson, is missing in action in Hungary since March 14. Sgt. Wilson, son of Bert Wilson, of Nickleville, was a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He had been stationed in Italy for almost a month." Margin note from Mrs. Kahle: 1945
15	Certificate of Military Service from the National Archives and Records Administration (form 13038) for John T. Wilson, serial number 33 682 366. He was a member of the Army of the United States from 13 Aug 1943 to 20 Oct 1945. His service was terminated by an honorable discharge at the rank of Staff Sergeant. His active service dates were 13 Aug 1943 to 20 Oct 1945. He was born on 10 Nov 1917 in Slippery Rock, PA.
16	Honorable discharge paperwork for John T. Wilson, army serial number 33 622 366. He is a Staff Sargeant in the Air Corps, component "AUS" (?). His organization is listed as "Co. ??? S?p. Base Andrews Field, D.C." He separated from the army on 20 Oct 1945 at ??? Separation Base ?????, D.C. His permanent mailing address is "???? ???, ??? 137., Trenton Pa." He was born on 10 Nov 1917 in Slippery Rock, PA. He has blue eyes, blond hair, is 5' ?" tall, and weighs 1?0 pounds. He has three dependents. He is white, married, and a US citizen. His civilian occupation is "Lineman Power 5-53.420" [NB: 5-53.420 is officially "Lineman IV (light, heat, & power)"]. He was inducted into the army on 30 Jul 1943 and entered into active service on 13 Aug 1943. At the time of entry into service, he lived at the same address given above. His military occupational specialty and number is "A? Arm-Gun. 612." [NB: 612 is officially "Armorer-Gunner."] Military qualification and date is listed as "AA? Air Crew Member Badge." Battles and campaigns reads, "No. App???????, ????and, Campaigns." Decorations and citations reads, "European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/2 Bronze Battle Stars; Good Conduct Medal." Wounds received in action reads, "????." He was immunized for smallpox, typhoid, and tetanus on Jan 1945 and ??? 35. His service outside the continental U.S. began with a departure on 17 Jan 1945 for Italy, arriving on 8 Feb 1945. He departed back for the U.S. on 13 Jun 1945, arriving on 1 Jul 1945. He had no prior service. His reason and authority for separation reads, "????? ????? ?? 613-365 as changed and ?? 1-1." Service schools attended reads, "???? ???., Kingman, Ariz." His education includes 8? years of grammar school, ? years of high school, and no college. His longevity for pay purposes was 2 years, 3 months, and 21 days. His mustering out pay was $300 total, $100 this payday. He received travel pay of $7.70. His total amount received was $130.70, from ???? ?????, Capt., AC. His insurance information is illegible. The remarks section reads, " ???? ???? ????.  ??????? 45 (2 Sep 45).  ?? time ??? ????? ?? 1??. Inactive Serv. ??? 30 Jul 1943 to 12 Aug 1943 incl. Typ??? 1? Jun 1943;" The form is signed by John T. Wilson, and also by his personnel officer, Edward C. Sto???, 1st. Lt., AC ??? ?? (???). This photocopy was received from the National Personnel Records Center after a request for records of separation for John Thomas Wilson. Unfortunately, they indicated that the original records were lost in a fire on 12 Jul 1973 so they provided this copy of records stored elsewhere as the best available.

Research Notes

• 1940 US census, John Wilson working for REA in South Carolina, is consistent with memoir writings of his wife Ella May Beals Wilson:
  "1940: John had been working for the REA in Pennsylvania; they also had jobs in Vermont and North Carolina.....On Valentines Day he went through Washington on his way south to his job in Laurens, S.C. Robert Simpson was with him. He called me from Friendship Ave. on the outskirts of town and I took busses till I got to the restaurant where they were waiting They had put their truckload of REA material in a garage and we walked to a tourist home. I think he was working for Miller Baxter but it was REA work.
• Unattributed XLS document showing B-17G in the 483rd with serial number 42-32017 with the nickname "Sweet 17" This matches with the "Sweet 17" engraving on the wooden clog, though the model of aircraft on the clog is listed as a B-17F. However, all official AAF records indicate that 42-32017 was a B-17G; this is likely an error on the part of JTW.
• USAAF accident list for "Yugoslavia" shows B-17G 42-32017 of the 815th/483rd having an accident on 3/14/1945