Reported Missing-1942

WILKIE

Posted By: Ruth McDowell (email)
Date: 5/6/2010 at 22:20:19

Afton Star Enterprise 1942

Gerald Wayne Wilkie, 22, was reported by the navy department Saturday to be missing in action but his father, Fred Wilkie, 411 1/2 West Howard street, said today he has not given up hope for his safety. "There's a lot of possibilities." the elder Wilkie said. The report that Wilkie is missing coincided with the navy's annuncement of the loss of the U.S. naval aircraft tender Langley in the battle of Java. Wilkie, who joined the navy in 1940 after serving three years in the army, was stationed on the Langley before Pearl Harbor.