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Personal info

Full name
PEARCE, Dixon Franklin Jr
Date of birth
30 July 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina
Hometown
Greenville County, South Carolina

Military service

Service number
O-717692
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
332nd Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 November 1944
Place of death
North Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Dixon F. Pearce (father)
Isbell (Beacham) Pearce (mother)
William B. Pearce (brother)
Robert W. Pearce (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38165
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: St. Christopher Kids
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Rheunania Ossag oil refinery
MACR: 10305

More information

1st Lt Dixon F. Pearce Jr. attended Clemson College, studying engineering for two years.

He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Clemson, South Carolina on 25 August 1942.

Two engines were hit and damaged by flak. According to the last word received from the crew, they were heading towards Holland and had decided to abandon the plane in the North Sea and await an Air Rescue. No further communication was received.

The entire crew of nine men was killed.

Official Statement of Thomas C.S. Houser, 2nd Lt, Air Corps:
"This aircraft was last seen with two engines out on 4 November 1944 at 53˚52'N - 07˚00'E at 1322 hours. At 1342 hours it was reported that he was calling for Air Sea Resque at 53˚48'N - 05˚40'E. Reports over VHF stated that he would try to make Holland but then decided to ditch. No further confirmed reports were received from this aircraft and therefore it is not known whether it ditched or made a landing safely."

He is remembered at the Springwood Cemetery in Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com - MACR / Statement, www.usaafdata.com, www.8thafhs.com, The Greenville News (Greenville, South Carolina)

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Greenville News, www.findagrave.com