Bird, Derry Gates
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Derry Gates |
Surname | Bird |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 12-06-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of James Bird and Margaret Bird (née Gates), of Marietta, Ohio, USA. Husband of Mary Graham (née Gloster), whom he married on 15 July 1934 at Franklin, Kentucky. Father of Derry Gates Jnr (born 1936) and James Gloster (born 1937). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | R1324 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 181. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 9 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/145007 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 93 |
Squadron | 28 OTU |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Miscellaneous Information
Derry was born at Marietta, Ohio on 14 March 1911. His father, retired, was born in Rugby, England and his mother was born in Marietta; both US citizens. The schools he attended were Marietta Public, Ohio, 1917-1925 followed by Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg 1925-1929. He worked as an inspector for Ford Motors between 1930 and 1932 when they then closed the plant. He then worked for himself for two or three years followed by six or seven years of working in Sales for six different firms. Then in 1940 he worked for himself again. His sport interests were swimming, golf and basketball. Once married, he made his home in Marietta, Ohio. |
Derry enlisted at Windsor, Ontario on 25 November 1941, whilst the United States was still neutral. He did not take an oath to the Kin. After initial training he was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Canada on 11 December 1942, arriving at 3PRC on 19 December and then went to 10 (0) AFU on 1 March 1943 and 28 OTU on 13 April 1943. Sadly he was to lose his life when their aircraft was on a sea search looking for another bomber crew believed to be missing in a dinghy. Their aircraft was never seen again and his date of death is reported as 12 June 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-06-1943 |
End Date | 12-06-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Wymeswold |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Air Sea Rescue |
Reason for Loss | Crashed into sea off Vlieland, Holland |