POWMIA.INFO

Tuskegee Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For (Dickson, L.)

By DPAA Public Affairs

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2018 - U.S. Army Air Forces Capt. Lawrence E. Dickson, killed during World War II, was accounted for on July 27. 

In December 1944, Dickson was a pilot with the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, in the European Theater. On Dec.23, 1944, Dickson departed Ramitelli Air Base, Italy on an aerial reconnaissance mission toward Praha, Czechoslovakia. On his return, Dickson’s P-51D aircraft suffered engine failure and was seen to crash along the borders of Italy and Austria, reportedly between Malborghetto and Tarviso, Italy. According to witnesses, Dickson’s plane had rolled over with the canopy jettisoned. He was not observed ejecting from the plane. Dickson’s remains were not recovered and he was subsequently declared missing in action.

DPAA is grateful to the government and people of Austria, the University of New Orleans, the University of Innsbruck, and Mr. Roland Domanig, for their partnerships in this recovery.

Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.

Dickson’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with the other MIAs from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. 

For more information about DPAA, visit www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, or call 703-699-1420/1169.

Dickson’s personnel profile can be viewed at 

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000Xe6eEAC