From the Oct. 25, 2010 Wilmington Star-News "Group unveils WWII aviators at Hannah Block USO" by Amy Hotz.
Wilbur Jones of the Wilmington Homefront heritage Coalition has determined that 121 New Hanover County residents served as aviators during World War II, with 39 dying in action or accidents.
On Monday, the group unveiled an aviators memorial in the lobby of the old USO building.
Jones spoke of one who earned three Navy Crosses and another who was a Flying Ace after making 12 kills. Three others went on to become generals.
Of the 39 who died, one was a woman, Ann Kelley Watters of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots.
Percy Heath was a black aviator with the Tuskegee Airmen and later became a nationally-known jazz musician.
The War in North Carolina. --Cooter
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