Wilton Moore
Courtesy of David Moore
Wilton Moore
In January 1944, 20-year-old Pfc Wilton Moore found himself crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the belly of a liberty ship. Little did Moore know he was about to play a role in some of the most famous battles of World War II. Moore, of Oxford, was an airplane mechanic for the 461st Bombardment Group (H) of the Fifteenth Air Force stationed at Torretta Field about nine miles southwest of Cerignola, Italy.
“The 461st participated in D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge.”, he said.
Long before those famous battles, Moore got his first taste of battle in the belly of that small liberty ship. Nearing the end of a 36-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean, his convoy of more than 100 ships endured a 12-minute air attack near the Straits of Gibraltar. “I was scared to death.”, Moore said. “We were on just a little liberty ship.”, Moore said. “We were sent below and it sounded like our boat was cracking wide open.” Moore said the raid reportedly sank one battleship, damaged another, and destroyed a bomber plane on one of the ship’s decks.
Upon reaching the Torretta Field near Cerignola, Italy, Moore discovered the base was so close to enemy lines that gun fire could be heard day and night.
Courtesy of David Moore
Wilton Moore with a buddy by his tent.
Moore was an airplane and engine mechanic, one of four mechanics who maintained a B-24 Liberator bomber known as “The Plastered Bastard.” Moore’s plane and its pilots and crew successfully completed bombing missions over Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Romania and Greece. The unit’s primary mission was to wipe out enemy communications, aircraft centers, oil fields and bridges. “The aircraft always came back,” Moore said., once with 137 holes in it. They bombed Romania that day. The engine got shot up, but it always came back.”
The 461st Bombardment Group valiantly
fought in more than 223 successful missions in the European theatre. From May 19 through August 16, 1944, the 461st Bomb Group
maintained the highest average bomb score in the entire Fifteenth Air
Force.
During the war, Moore received eight bronze stars on his
European-African-Middle East Theatre ribbon representing eight
campaigns: Normandy, Rome-Arno, Northern France, Southern France,
Northern Apennines, Rhineland, Po Valley, and Air Combat Balkans. Moore
received the Good Conduct medal for exemplary behavior, efficiency and
fidelity during his active military service. He also received two
Presidential Unit Citation awards.
In August 1945, Moore returned home from the war to begin life again with his young wife, Marjorie, and 3-year-old son, Winston. The family moved to Oxford in 1950.
In 1999, a battle plaque was dedicated to the entire 461st Bombardment Group (H) of the Fifteenth Air Force at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. Moore and his family traveled to Washington, DC to see the plaque and the newly-built World War II Memorial. “It brought back a lot of memories.” Moore said, adding he couldn’t believe the vast number of servicemen and women’s names etched on the Memorial. Of the 16 million US servicemen and women who served in World War II, more than 400,000 perished in the line of duty.
Courtesy of David Moore
Wilton Moore at the World War II Memorial in Washinton, DC in 2004.
Thankfully, Wilton Moore made it home to tell his story.
Courtesy of David Moore
Wilton Moore at home with his medals.