As we are all spending more time at home these past few months it has given us time to reflect on the freedoms we have in this great country of ours. These freedoms did not come to us at a reduced price they were earned by the blood, sweat, and tears of those who served our country. As Memorial Day approaches and many of the celebrations are being put on hold, we still can remember those who sacrificed so we can live in the land of the free.
One of the many who left the Maple City to fight a war in a foreign land was Donald Gene Wright. Donald graduated from Geneseo High School in 1941 and enlisted in the Armed Services on July 28, 1942. He was sent to Camp Grant in Illinois on July 31, 1942, to begin his training. After Boot Camp Wright went to Sheppard Field in Texas to begin formal training in the field of aviation. His aviation training would send him to schools in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. These training schools got him ready to be a gunner on a B-24 Liberator Bomber.
The B-24 Liberator was first built in 1939 and became America’s most prolific bomber of World War 2 with more than 18,000 being built during the war years. The plane was used in every theater of war during World War 2 though most successfully on bombing runs in the Pacific Theater. The Liberator was also used to carry cargo, passengers, as an anti-submarine plane, for reconnaissance flights, and during special operation assignments.
Wright and the rest of his flight crew were assigned to the 344th Bomb Squadron in the 98th Bombing Group of the 9th Air Force. The 98th heavy bombing group, made up of B-24s, flew missions out of Northern Africa beginning in February of 1942. Wright’s crew was stationed at an air base located 15 miles outside of Benghazi in the country of Libya. The B-24 that he flew on was named Tagalong and had its first mission out of Northern Africa on April 28, 1943. Many of Wright’s early missions were raids over the coasts of Italy. On those missions the Tagalong’s crew consisted of a pilot, a co-pilot, a navigator, a bomber, a top turret gunner, a radio operator, a waist gunner, and another gunner.
In June of 1943 on a mission over Salonika, Greece Tagalong took heavy flak, which comes from a projectile being shot from a large gun on the ground. The projectile then exploded in the air sending out jagged metal fragments that could cut through the body of any airplane in its path. On one of its missions Tagalong received over 150 holes in its body with one of those holes being the size of a metal washtub. While flying through the flak over Greece Wright received his first injury of the war. A flak shell burst near Tagalong and the metal fragments tore through the plane and cut his leg, head, and arms. Later, when asked about this mission Donald said he received the Silver Star for being scared to death rather than the injuries.
On August 1, 1943, Tagalong would fly its 26th and last mission of the war. Wright and the rest of the crew would take part in Operation Tidal Wave. This mission was a low level bombing raid of the oil fields in Ploesti, Romania. This raid consisted of 179 bombers and 1,173 men. Of those 179 bombers 55 were lost in action with 10 being shot down by Romanian airplanes, 7 shot down by Nazi fighter planes, and the rest, including Tagalong, being brought down by flak. During Operation Tidal Wave 308 men lost their lives and another 208 men were taken as Prisoners of War.
Tagalong was hit by flak while flying at just 35 feet above ground level. The flak hit the plane in the front nose section and Tagalong was able to stay in the air for just about 30 seconds before crashing into a cornfield just outside of Ploesti. Of the flight crew on board, four died and five were taken as Prisoners of War. Wright became a POW after suffering a broken arm, leg injuries and burns during the crash. The five surviving crew members were taken to Ploesti by German troops on a motorcycle.
After a stay in a Romanian hospital, Wright and the other American POW’s were sent to Romanian Prisoner of War Camps. At the camp the men were treated fairly well since Princess Catherine of Romania stepped in and made sure all prisoners were well cared for during their time in Romania. The Princess would become known as the Angel of Romania for her care of these men and for her opposition to the Nazi’s.
Wright served 13 months as a POW before the Romanian government would switch sides and become supporters of the Allies. It was at that time that all POW’s held in Romania were released. Wright would arrive back in the United States on September 26, 1944 and be back in Geneseo by October 10th of that same year. After a short stay in his hometown, Wright went back to finish out his time in the Army. Donald would finish his military career stateside as a physical training instructor at Chanute Field near Rantoul, Illinois. He was discharged on September 15, 1945 as the most decorated soldier from Henry County during World War 2. Wright had been awarded a Silver Star for Gallantry in action, a Distinguished Flying Cross for Distinguished and meritorious achievement, an Air Medal for meritorious achievement, 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters which indicate the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th awards of the Air Medal for Exceptionally Meritorious Achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy, and a Purple Heart. These awards were presented to his sister in Geneseo during the time he was being held as a Prisoner of War in Romania.
Now as we stay at home it is important to remember those who are currently serving and those that have served our county. Take time to thank those who step up and serve in many ways. And from Leafing Through History – A Big Thank You to all who have and are serving!!!
Wright and the rest of the Tagalong Crew
Photograph of what is thought to be the crashing of the B-24 Tagalong
Donald Wright
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