Joseph A DeRidder
Military ROLL OF HONOURSource: Jayna DeRidder-Huotari, granddaughter
Killed in Action (KIA) 31 July 1944 Shot down by flak and crashed at Schleissheim in B-17 Devil's Luck #4232030
AM w/ 4 Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH
YOUNG FLIER LOSES LIFE OVER GERMANY
1st Lieut. Joseph A. DeRidder, 24, son of Mr. & Mrs. Alfons Charles DeRidder, Norway, & husband of Mrs. Lucille DeRidder, 1112 West B Street, lost his life July 31 during an American bombing raid over Munich, Germany, his wife as informed in a telegram receive last night from the United States War Department.
He had previously been reported missing. The young Lieut. Had completed 23 missions & had 12 more to go. He was a crew member of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber which participated in a combat mission. The planes were subjected to enemy anti-aircraft fire over the target & his plane sustained damage.
On a previous mission in the Beauvoir section of France, the bomber on which he was a co-pilot was hit by a missile from a ground-rocket, starting a fire in the cockpit. DeRidder beat out the flames with his bare hands until the pilot reached a lower altitude & then, with the aid of the gunner, found a fire extinguisher.
DeRidder had been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievements during bombing missions over enemy territory; 3 Oak Leaf Clusters & a Presidential Citation.
Born in Norway, Mich., the young man attended public schools &was employed at DeRidder’s Market before he joined the Armed Forces.
He entered the service in Feb. 1943. After basic training & aviation school he graduate Dec. 5, `943 & was commissioned a 2nd Lieut & received his co-pilot’s license. He left for overseas Feb. 1944.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-756179
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Devil's Luck
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Memorial
- Known as: Knettishall
- Site type: Other
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Norway, MI, USA | 31 March 1917 | |
Died |
Schleissheim palace complex, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany | 31 July 1944 | KIA when his aircraft took a direct flak hit and exploded. There was only one survivor. |
Buried |
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial • Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France Plot Plot D Row 30 Grave 35 | ||
Iron Mountain, MI, USA |
Revisions
Brought in information from duplicate record. Sources:
Jayna DeRidder-Huotari, granddaughter
MACR 7744 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Source: Jayna DeRidder-Huotari, granddaughter of Joseph A. DeRidder
ABMC MACR 7744 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia