Wesley H. Hunt
Date of Birth: May 17, 1922
Place of Birth: Missouri
Father and Mother’s Names: Alfred and Sarah F. Hunt
Date Entered Service: May 22, 1942 in Manhattan, Kansas.
Service Branch: Army Air Corps
Rank/Specialty: First Lieutenant, Pilot of P4-L10-CU Bomber, SN-42-10867.
Service ID: 0-754118
Division/Company/Unit info: 316th Fighter Squadron, 324th Fighter Group, 12th Tactical Air Command.
Awards and Commendations: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
Riley Connection: Entered service in Manhattan.
Date of Death (and Age): June 18, 1944 (age 22)
Place of Death: Over Cecina, Italy. Reported as MIA (Missing in Action) after plane crashed, but later would be offically listed as KIA (Killed in Action).
Grave Location: Listed on the Tablets of the Missing (with grave marker) at Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Italy.
Bio: Wesley was born in Kansas City, MO. to Frederick D. and Anna C. Hunt. 1st. Lieutenant Wesley Harold Hunt died when his P4-L10-CU Bomber (SN. 42-10867) was lost in Italy on his way to dive bomb a designated target (bridge). Lt. Hunt was the lead aircraft in an eight plane dive bomb mission aimed at a bridge near Cecina, Italy. The left wingman, Lt. William Richmond, reported that Hunt had called to make a left turn at 10,000 ft. over target. Richmond stated that he lost site of Hunt's plane as it dove through the clouds at 7,500 ft. west of Celina. The fighter group could not find the plane nor could they obtain any contact by radio. Lt. Hunt was considered a battle casualty and missing in action. His memorial is at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy PLOT- Tablets of the Missing.
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