A Utah native was brought home to rest more than eight decades after losing his life defending his country in France.
U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. George F. “Frankie” Wilson was killed when the B-17 bomber he was piloting was shot down over France. On Tuesday, a funeral was held at the Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base to honor the fallen soldier.
“I’m grateful that through his sacrifice, peace was achieved — and that the enemies of his day are our friends today,” said Maj. Gen. Daniel Boyack, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard.
“I’m also grateful for those who still seek to honor those that passed on and gave their lives and never made it home. The fact that (Wilson) has been returned 81 years after his death — and that people still dedicate their time, efforts and resources to making this happen — gives me renewed hope for our country.”
Born in Ogden in 1921, Wilson was an adventurous kid who loved scouting and skiing. He attended West High School, played the clarinet — and, according to his late mother, Retta, “had no problem finding girlfriends,” Jason Swensen reported.
He later enrolled at the University of Utah and joined the ROTC program. Wilson got married before signing up for the Army Air Corps and became a father to a son he named Terry.
Read more about the war hero’s return to Utah.