Wilk Henry Rudolph

Name:

Henry Rudolph Wilk

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

Unit:

578th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

2009-09-26

State:

Connecticut

Cemetery:

Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield, Connecticut

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

Henry Rudolph Wilk was born in 1917, in Harrison, New York. He was the son of John and Anna Wilk.

Henry served in the 91st Troop Carrier Squadron, 578th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group (Heavy) as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner of the B-24H #42-7485 'Alfred' in World War II. He survived on January 4, 1944, in the crash of their aircraft when it was returning from the combat mission to Kiel, Germany. Due to severe aircraft damage, they were forced to attempt a crash landing just on the Northeastern coast of East Anglia at the small village of Sheringham, Norfolk. Four (4) crewmen were killed outright in the crash, and a fifth died in a hospital at Cromer four days later. The others also survived.

Henry Wilk was a longtime area resident and was the owner of Wilk Nurseries prior to his retirement. He was a member of the George A. Smith Post #74 and the Fairfield County Horticulture Society. A true outdoorsman, Mr. Wilk was an avid hunter, fisherman, and gardener. He passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on September 26, 2009, and he is now buried in the Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com