LeRoy Clifford Deede

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LeRoy Clifford Deede (born 5 February 1916 in Woodworth, North Dakota) was a United States Naval Reserve officer.

Deede enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 2 July 1937 and was appointed a Naval Aviator 21 September 1938. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his outstanding service while commanding a PBY during a bombing attack on a Japanese naval force in Jolo Harbor, Sulu, Philippine Islands, 27 December 1941. With his plane crippled after splashing an enemy plane which tried to down him Deede crash landed at sea where he and his crew could be rescued. Lieutenant (junior grade) Deede was killed 17 June 1942 in the Asiatic area.

[edit] Namesake

The USS Deede (DE-263) was named in his honor.

[edit] See also

United States Navy Portal

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.