Theodore Paul Deffner

Military
media-42018.jpeg UPL 42018 "Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, Commander in Chief of U.S. Army Forces in the Middle East, pinning the Silver Star on the chest of 2nd Lt. Theodore P. Deffner, Bombardier, of St. Louis, Mo. Preparing to release his bombs on a convoy in the Mediterranean, his aircraft was struck from fire by enemy fighter planes. The Co--pilot was seriously wounded and Lt Deffner was largely responsible for saving him from grave complications. He also manned a gun-post during the attack to help thwart further successful enemy action. The award was made on 11th Nov. 1942 at an advanced base somewhere in the Middle East."

Object Number - UPL 42018 - "Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, Commander in Chief of U.S. Army Forces in the Middle East, pinning the Silver Star on the chest of 2nd Lt. Theodore P....

Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Messina, Sicily, 30-Apr-43; Flak took out No.3 engine and port flaps, fell away from formation being harried by several Me-109's, ditched in sea. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 3305



Awards: DFC, SS, AM (2OLC), PH.

Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18042876 / O-435808
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wittle Wed Wabbit
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Berka, al Birkah

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sterling, NE 11 September 1919 Son of Emil Christian and Alma Luella [Ernst] Deffner.

Died

Vicinity of Messina, Sicily 30 April 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) Messina, Sicily, 30-Apr-43; Flak took out No.3 engine and port flaps, fell away from formation being harried by several Me-109's, ditched in sea. KIA MACR 3305

Based

Berca 30 April 1943 Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Immanuel Cemetery, Sterling, Johnson County, NE Memorialised Immanuel Cemetery Sterling, Johnson County, NE

Buried

North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage, Tunis

Enlisted

St Louis, MO St Louis, Missouri

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