Harold S Derr Jr
Military
Radio Operator, B-17G Blanco Diablo
447th BG, 708 BS, Rattlesden, England, 1944
harold S. Derr, Jr. Archive
Object Number - UPL 31773 - S/Sgt Harold S. Derr, Jr Radio Operator, B-17G Blanco Diablo 447th BG, 708 BS, Rattlesden, England, 1944
Prisoner of War (POW) crashed on 12/6/44 near Mepple in B-17 'Blanco Diablo' #42102658
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: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37731953
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Blanco Diablo
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Watsontown, Pennsylvania | 16 October 1918 |
Revisions
Special Orders, Headquarters San Antonio District, AAF Personnel Distribution Commad, San Antonio, Texas, 29 September 1945, effectice 1 Oct 1945:
To Be Technical Sergeant: S Sgt (757) Harold S. Derr, Jr. 13022055
Harold S Derr Jr was my Father, service number 13022055, who served in the 447th BG, 708 BS, based at Rattlesden, England. He flew with the Howard DeMallie crew on Blanco Diablo (B-17G 42-102658). He was on the plane when it was shot down on a mission to Merseberg, Dec 6, 1944. He was captured and spent the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft I.
Verification of this information can be found in Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 11052
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11052
