Othel Dickson (1920 - 1944)

Born 23 Jan 1920 in Wagoner, Wagoner, Oklahoma, United States

Died 28 Jun 1944 at age 24 in Italy

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Biography

Othel Dickson was Killed in Action during World War II.

Othel Dickson is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 301st Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman

Othel Dickson was awarded the Purple Heart.

Congressional Gold Medal

Othel was born in 1920, in Oklahoma, to Lillie B Dickson. For the first two decades of his life he used the name Othel Larry Watkins^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}. He grew up in Coffeyville, Kansas and attended Coffeyville Junior College from 1940 to 1942 before enrolling in the Tuskegee Air Pilot Program. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant from the aviation Cadet Corps of the Tuskegee Army Air Field on Dec. 5, 1943.^[7][8]. That same month, he led all flying cadets from the Eastern Flying Training Command in the National Fixed Gunnery held in Florida, becoming the top ranking aerial gunner among all the cadets. He came in third as sharpshooter. ^[9][10]

Othel was assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, based in Italy. In May of 1944, Othel experienced a flying incident where he managed to escape injury. ^[11]

On Jun 28, 1944, 2nd Lt. Othel Dickson was on a transition mission when he was killed in an air crash. ^[12][13]. He was first listed as Missing in Action until his body was located, and he was buried in a temporary cemetery in Italy. In May of 1949, his body was brought to the US for burial. ^[14][15] He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Coffeyville, Kansas, in Section CS, Rd. 6, Plot 33 on 28 Jun 1949.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas; Page: 17B; Enumeration District: 0019; FHL microfilm: 2340447
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #33309242 (accessed 11 November 2022)
   Othel Watkins (10), single son, Coal Shoveller, in household of Lillie Bowser (28) at 1213 Beech, Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas, USA. Born in Oklahoma.
2. ↑ 1937 Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995"
   Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information
   Ancestry Record 2469 #811235529 (accessed 11 November 2022)
   Name: Othel Watkins; Residence Year: 1937; Street Address: 808 E 7th; Residence Place: Coffeyville, Kansas, USA; Occupation: Delivery Man; Publication Title: Coffeyville, Kansas, City Directory, 1937.
3. ↑ 1939 Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995"
   Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #803877431 (accessed 11 November 2022)
   Name: Othel Watkins; Residence Year: 1939; Street Address: 612 E 7th; Residence Place: Coffeyville, Kansas, USA; Occupation: Helper; Publication Title: Coffeyville, Kansas, City Directory, 1939.
4. ↑ 1939 School Yearbook: "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016"
   "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Field Kindley Memorial High School; Year: 1939
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1265 #1000618526 (accessed 11 November 2022)
   Name: Othel Watkins; Estimated Age: Abt 16; Birth Year: abt 1923; Yearbook Date: 1939; School: Field Kindley Memorial High School; School Location: Coffeyville, Kansas, USA.
5. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1940; Census Place: Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas; Roll: m-t0627-01247; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 63-13B
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #64420934 (accessed 11 November 2022)
   Otheal Watkins (20), single son, Delivery Boy, in household of Lillie Dickson (37) in Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas. Born in Oklahoma.
6. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
   National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Kansas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 96
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #25049069 (accessed 11 November 2022)
   Name: Othel Dickson; Gender: Male; Race: Negro (Black); Age: 21; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 23 Jan 1920; Birth Place: Waggoner, Oklahoma, USA; Residence Place: Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas, USA; Registration Date: 1 Jul 1941; Registration Place: Kansas, USA; Employer: Unemployed; Height: 5 8; Weight: 144; Complexion: Dark Brown; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Black; Next of Kin: Lillie B Dickson;
   Household Members (Name) Relationship:
   Othel Dickson Self (Head).
7. ↑ Los Angeles Tribune. 3 Jan 1944.
8. ↑ The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.), 25 Dec. 1943. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045324/1943-12-25/ed-1/seq-17/>
9. ↑ Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.), 11 Dec. 1943. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn79000083/1943-12-11/ed-1/seq-2/>
10. ↑ Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.), 18 Dec. 1943. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn79000083/1943-12-18/ed-1/seq-2/>
11. ↑ The Parsons Sun, 15 Jul 1944, pg 6.
12. ↑ 332d Fighter Group history for June 1944
13. ↑ Military: "U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945"
    United States. Army. Quartermaster General’s Office. Rosters of World War II Dead (all services). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1102 #80973 (accessed 9 November 2022)
    Name: Othel Dickson; Gender: Male; Race: Negro (Black); Religion: Protestant; Cemetery Name: Kansas; Disposition: According to next of kin; Service Branch: Army; Rank: Second Lieutenant; Service Number: 817583.
14. ↑ Oakland Tribune, 21 May 1949, pg 3
15. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #160378790 (accessed 11 November 2022)
    Memorial page for 2LT Othell Dickson (unknown-28 Jun 1944); Maintained by: Find a Grave Burial Details Unknown, who reports a WWII Aircraft Crash.
16. ↑ According to cemetery records held by County Clerk's Office, Coffeyville, Kansas (phone call 14 Nov 2022).