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name
DERRICK, Pete Edwin - Date of
birth
17 March 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
20828430 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
4 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, north of the Frisian Islands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
George Lewis Derrick (father)
Ollie Edna (Cooper) Derrick (mother)
William B. Derrick (brother)
Rachel C. Derrick (sister)
Newton Derrick (brother)
Jack W. Derrick (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7471 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Filthy Annie
Destination: Frisian Islands
Mission: Diversion
MACR: 890
More information
S/Sgt Pete E. Derrick worked on a farm. He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 12 July 1941.The mission's objective was to deconcentrate German defenses, primarily fighter units, and draw them away from the main bomber routes across the continent.
The B-24 was last seen falling in a mild spin at about 10,000 feet followed closely by four enemy fighters. One or two parachutes were reported seen from this aircraft. A wing tip and the tail assembly had been damaged and partially torn off as a result of a mid-air collision with one of the other Group aircraft, believed to be B-24 # 42-7481.
The entire crew of ten was killed. Five are listed on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten and five are listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.newspapers.com - Miami Daily News-Record, www.ancestry.com - 1920-1940 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - John Dowdy