Medal of Honor: Raymond H. Wilkins – World War II (Air Mission) – November 2, 1943
Flying through a storm of anti-aircraft fire at Rabaul, Major Raymond H. Wilkins refused to break off his attack. With his bomber shredded and burning, he struck two Japanese ships — then dove toward a cruiser, drawing fire to save his men.
November 4, 2025
Name: Raymond H. Wilkins
Rank: Major
Branch: U.S. Army Air Corps
Born: September 28, 1917, Portsmouth, Virginia
Entered Service At: Portsmouth, Virginia
Summary of Action
On November 2, 1943, Major Raymond H. Wilkins led his squadron in a low-level attack on Japanese shipping inside Simpson Harbor, near Rabaul, New Britain—one of the most heavily defended targets in the Pacific. He deliberately placed himself in the most dangerous flight position to shield his men from enemy fire.
As his B-25 Mitchell bomber roared into the harbor through smoke, flak, and tracer fire, Wilkins’ aircraft was hit almost immediately. Despite severe damage to his wing and controls, he pressed on, strafing enemy vessels and releasing a 1,000-pound bomb that struck an enemy destroyer amidships, sending it up in flames. Still under intense fire and flying barely above the masts, he continued his attack, striking a 9,000-ton transport and setting it ablaze.
With his bombs gone and his plane barely holding together, Wilkins led his squadron away—only to find a Japanese heavy cruiser blocking their escape. Knowing the ship’s guns would tear his men apart, he turned his crippled bomber directly into its fire, strafing the cruiser to draw its attention. His stabilizer was blown away, his wing shattered, and his aircraft crashed into the sea. His final act of courage allowed his entire squadron to escape.
Medal of Honor Citation
Place and date: Near Rabaul, New Britain, 2 November 1943.
Entered service at: Portsmouth, Va.
Born: 28 September 1917, Portsmouth, Va.
G.O. No.: 23, 24 March 1944.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Rabaul, New Britain, on 2 November 1943. Leading his squadron in an attack on shipping in Simpson Harbor, during which intense antiaircraft fire was expected, Maj. Wilkins briefed his squadron so that his airplane would be in the position of greatest risk. His squadron was the last of 3 in the group to enter the target area. Smoke from bombs dropped by preceding aircraft necessitated a last-second revision of tactics on his part, which still enabled his squadron to strike vital shipping targets, but forced it to approach through concentrated fire, and increased the danger of Maj. Wilkins’ left flank position. His airplane was hit almost immediately, the right wing damaged, and control rendered extremely difficult. Although he could have withdrawn, he held fast and led his squadron into the attack. He strafed a group of small harbor vessels, and then, at low level, attacked an enemy destroyer. His 1,000 pound bomb struck squarely amidships, causing the vessel to explode. Although antiaircraft fire from this vessel had seriously damaged his left vertical stabilizer, he refused to deviate from the course. From below-masthead height he attacked a transport of some 9,000 tons, scoring a hit which engulfed the ship in flames. Bombs expended, he began to withdraw his squadron. A heavy cruiser barred the path. Unhesitatingly, to neutralize the cruiser’s guns and attract its fire, he went in for a strafing run. His damaged stabilizer was completely shot off. To avoid swerving into his wing planes he had to turn so as to expose the belly and full wing surfaces of his plane to the enemy fire; it caught and crumpled his left wing. Now past control, the bomber crashed into the sea. In the fierce engagement Maj. Wilkins destroyed 2 enemy vessels, and his heroic self-sacrifice made possible the safe withdrawal of the remaining planes of his squadron.
