Eston W. Wilson

Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 1 Line: 9

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

A native of Jacksonville, Florida. Graduated from the California Aeronautical Technical Institute, Glendale, California. Upon his enlistment in the Air Force he was returned to Cal Aero Tech for advanced aircraft maintenance courses.

His first base assignment was Biggs AFB,Texas, 97th Bomb Wing. He volunteered for aircrew duties on B-29 bombers that were being retrofitted for In-flight refueling duties for the 97th Air Refueling Squadron at Biggs AFB, thus beginning a 30-year involvement as a boom/reel operator on B-29/KB-29P, KB-50/KB-50J , KC-97, and KC-135 Tanker Aircraft.

He received the nick name "Lucky" after surviving many close calls during refueling operations around the globe. He served in Europe, the Far East, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and South America.

During the Vietnam Conflict "Lucky" flew 374 combat sorties from U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand under operation "Young Tiger,"and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and eight Air Medals.