Lawrence Dickson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence E. Dickson
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Lawrence E. Dickson in 1943
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| Birth name | Lawrence Everett Dickson |
| Born | May 31, 1920 Bronx, New York |
| Died | December 23, 1944 (aged 24) Italy |
| Buried | |
| Service/ |
United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943–1944 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 100th Fighter Squadron 332d Fighter Group |
| Awards |
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| Spouse(s) | Phyllis C. Dickson |
| Relations | Daughter Marla |
Lawrence Dickson (born May 31, 1920 – died December 23, 1944) was an American pilot. He was a brave member of the famous World War II group known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Dickson flew 68 missions during World War II. Sadly, he was forced to leave his plane over Austria in 1944 and was declared missing in action. Many years later, on July 27, 2018, his remains were finally found and identified.
Contents
Military Service and the Tuskegee Airmen
Lawrence Dickson finished his training at Tuskegee in Alabama on March 25, 1943. He was sent to Italy and joined the 100th Fighter Squadron, which was part of the 332d Fighter Group. This group was special because it was made up of African American pilots. They were known as the Tuskegee Airmen, and their planes often had distinctive red tails.
On December 23, 1944, Dickson was flying his 68th mission. He was piloting his P-51 aircraft as part of a mission to Praha, Czechoslovakia. On the way back, he reported engine trouble. He told his base in Ramitelli, Italy that he needed to return.
Dickson left the main mission, and two other pilots flew with him. They slowly lost altitude as Dickson looked for a safe place to land or bail out. His plane's engine trouble was very serious. He was forced to eject from his plane over Hohenthurn, Austria. One of his wingmen saw him eject, but heavy snow made it impossible to find him. Lawrence Dickson was declared missing in action. After the war, German records showed that a P-51 plane had crashed in that area on the day Dickson disappeared.
During World War II, the United States Army was segregated. This meant black pilots, like the Tuskegee Airmen, had different rules. For example, black pilots could not take a break (called R&R) until they completed 70 missions. White pilots could take R&R after only 50 missions. Dickson went missing when he was on his 68th mission, very close to reaching his R&R.
Discovery and Burial
On July 27, 2018, Lawrence Dickson's remains were finally identified. This was done by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. A local researcher named Roland Domanig found the crash site and human remains. He said he had visited the site as a child in the 1950s. But he didn't discover the remains until 2002.
An archaeology team went to the site in 2017. They found bone fragments that matched the DNA of Lawrence Dickson's daughter. They also found a 14-karat ring at the crash site. The ring had "P.D." and a heart with an arrow on it. It also said "L.E.D. 5-31-43." "P.D." stood for his wife, Phyllis Dickson. "L.E.D." was for Lawrence E. Dickson, and May 31, 1943, was his 23rd birthday. A small cross and part of a harmonica were also found.
On March 22, 2019, Lawrence E. Dickson was buried with full honors. The ceremony took place at Arlington National Cemetery. Four Air Force jets flew over during the service. His daughter, Marla, and his grandchildren were there. An Army General gave Marla the folded American flag.
Awards and Honors
- Congressional Gold Medal (awarded in 2007)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
- Purple Heart
Education and Family Life
Lawrence Dickson studied at Tuskegee Institute and graduated in 1943.
He was born to Agnes C. Dickson and had two brothers. Lawrence was married to Phyllis. They had a daughter named Marla Dickson. Marla was born on July 14, 1942, at Sydenham Hospital in Harlem. Sadly, Lawrence's mother passed away before his burial ceremony. His wife, Phyllis, lived to be 96 years old and passed away in 2017.
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
- List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
- List of solved missing person cases
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
