Wilmington's WW II Role, By the Numbers-- Part 2:

During World War II, Wilmington was known as "The Defense Capital of the State."  Today, there is a movement to declare Wilmington as a "World War II Heritage City" largely led by Wilbur D. Jones.

The city also had a huge impact on shipbuilding for the war efforts.  It also hosted USOs, five military branches, a fighter plane training area and the headquarters of a railroad company.

Here are some NUMBERS to go with the city's contributions:

2--  Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from New Hanover County:  Charles Murray and William Halyburton.  A Wilmington middle school is named for Murray and the road to it is named for Halyburton. 

In addition, two pilots from Wilmington received the Navy Cross for helping sink a Japanese carrier at the Battle of Midway.

3-- Prisoner of War camps from February 1944 to April 1946.  They were located at Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road, then moved to Robert Strange Park (at 8th and Anne streets) and a detachment at Bluethenthal Field (now Wilmington International Airport).

191--  New Hanover County men who died in service, plus 57 with an area connection.  Three were killed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

242--  Vessels (mostly Liberty Ships) built by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company (now the State Port).  At its height the company employed 23,000 people.

--GreGen