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A South Carolina native, Roland Wooten entered the Army Air Corps through the Aviation Cadet Program in 1941 and completed flight training at Randolph Field, Texas. He arrived in England in April, 1942 and was assigned to the 31st Fighter Group which was the only U.S. unit flying the British Spitfire, later being re-equipped with the P-51 Mustang.
His unit supported operations in the European theater including the Dieppe Landings then was transferred to North Africa in November.
Wooten scored 6 aerial victories, eventually being shot down, but survived and returned to duty. He was sent back to the U.S. to participate in a war bond tour, returning to Europe in 1944.
Flying P-47 42-25894 with the 362nd Fighter Group, he was shot down for a second time within days and spent the remainder of the war in a POW camp.
Wooten earned 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 22 Air Medals and 2 Purple Hearts.
He later served as Postmaster of Charleston, South Carolina, and was killed in a private plane accident in 1968.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/243741
