Lieutenant Wiley H. Grizzle Jr.

Air Medal w/ 4 Oak Leaf Crosses

Wiley Grizzle Jr. was born on Jan 14, 1924 to Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Grizzle of Roswell. He grew up on the family farm around Roswell and graduated from Roswell HS in 1941. He arrived on the campus of NMAMC the next fall and studied agriculture for 2 years before leaving school to enlist in the USAAF in February 1943. After earning his pilot wings Lt Grizzle was trained to fly P 51 fighter aircraft. Assigned to the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, Lt Grizzle was flying missions over Berlin as Soviet troops advanced on the city from the east. During this time he was credited with 2.5 kills. On March 3, 1945, Lt Grizzle was flying his P-51D # 44-63896 LH-S “The G Nat” as part of a 22 ship formation near Kassel Germany when they spotted a flight of 15 FW 190’s and 15+ Me 109’s. Attacking from above, the ensuing air to air combat was the greatest day in the history of his group with the destruction of 29 enemy fighters and damage to seven more. Lt Grizzle and four other pilots were lost in the ensuing fight. He was initially listed as missing in action. However in 1949 his body was returned to the United States and buried at South Park cemetery in Roswell. Lt Wylie H Grizzle Jr. was 21 years of age at the time of his death.