Wilson, R. C. (Roscoe Charles), 1905-1986

Roscoe Charles Wilson (b. 1905, Centralia, Pa.-d. Aug. 21, 1986), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1928 and the next year completed pilot training and transferred to the Air Corps. In 1932 he began his service in the technical and scientific fields, graduating from the Air Corps Engineering School a year later and receiving assignment as project officer on two new aircraft. He returned to the Military Academy in 1937 and in 1940 as a science instructor. In 1943 he was appointed Army Air Force project officer to support the Manhattan Engineering Division, one of the first officers involved in the development of the atom bomb. He was named chief of staff, 316th Bomb Wing based on Okinawa, in 1944. After the War, General Wilson was designated deputy chief, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, responsible for atomic weapons. After serving as commandant of the Air War College, he assumed command of the 3rd Air Force in the United Kingdom. In 1957 he was assigned as Air Force member, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Development; and the next year became deputy chief of staff, development (later research and technology), at Air Force HQ. He retired in 1961.