Lawrence Robert Dickson
Staff Sergeant Lawrence R. “Lonnie” Dickson was a Marine radioman and gunner who flew with VMSB-151.
He was killed in an operational accident near Wallis Island on 20 September 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 314734
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 9, 1922
in Eastover, SC
Parents
John DeWitt Dickson II
Elsie Corrine (Hook) Dickson
Education
Miami Beach High School (1940)
Occupation & Employer
Paper Carrier
The Miami Herald
Service Life
Entered Service
June 24, 1941
at Savannah, GA
Home Of Record
109 1st San Marino Terrace
Miami Beach, FL
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Elsie Dickson
Military Specialty
Aviation radioman/gunner
Primary Unit
Mainly Served With
Campaigns Served
Guadalcanal (with VMSB-141)
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Lonnie Dickson initially deployed to the Pacific as a radioman/gunner with VMSB-141. He participated in the Guadalcanal campaign as a member of the “Cactus Air Force,” and was one of only a few aviators to survive unscathed by wounds or disease. After his tour on the ‘Canal, Dickson transferred to VMSB-151 at Tutuila, American Samoa, to fly patrol missions with the 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing. As a combat veteran and skilled aviator, Dickson earned a promotion to the rank of staff sergeant in July 1943 – just twenty years old.
On 20 September 1943, Dickson and 2Lt. Clinton M. Harbison, Jr., were flying one of the squadron’s SBD-4 Dauntless dive bombers on a routine non-combat flight. At 1350 hours, for reasons unknown, the aircraft crashed into the sea and exploded on impact. No parachutes were seen, and the wreckage sank before bodies could be recovered.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
According to the AviationArchaeology database, VMSB-151 lost two SBD-4 bombers on 20 September 1943: Bureau Number 06907 and Bureau Number 06910. It is not clear which aircraft was flown by Harbison and Dickson.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Elsie Dickson.
Location Of Loss
Harbison and Dickson crashed at sea somewhere near Wallis Island.
