After Deamer’s arrival, the heavy bomber squadron continued its strategic bombing campaign against German industrial sites, oil refineries, storage facilities, communications centers and naval targets in Nazi-occupied Europe. The 562nd garnered a second Distinguished Unit Citation for three separate missions in May and June 1944 against synthetic oil refineries in Germany. Sadly, Deamer did not survive to share in his squadron’s recognition.

Deamer was born Aug. 31, 1922 in Lewistown to Luther Howard and Laura A. Klinger Deamer. He had three younger siblings: Betty M., Dorothy A. and Harold. His father, who served as an army private during World War I, supported the household employed as a laborer in the local silk and rayon mills.

Deamer graduated from Lewistown High School in 1941 where he participated in the craftsman club and inter-class basketball. He took a vocational course of studies. Deamer relocated to Baltimore, Maryland for employment with the Bendix Radio Corporation. He married Faye L. Kurtz on Oct. 18, 1941. The couple later divorced. Deamer registered for the draft in Lewistown on June 30, 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces on Sept. 4, 1942 in Harrisburg and reported for duty at New Cumberland.

Deamer attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and qualified to be a gunner on the B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. His unit was part of one of three forces assigned by the 8th Air Force to bombard fighter aircraft factories and targets of opportunity in northern Germany on April 11, 1944. A total of 830 B-17’s and B-24’s participated in the mission.

Photo courtesy of Stories Behind the Stars
Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-3 JG 2

Deamer was assigned to crew B-17G 42-32003 “Shoo Shoo Baby” as right waist gunner on the mission over Rostock, Germany. The Flying Fortress reached the target and released her bombs. As “Shoo Shoo Baby” began her return flight, four Focke-Wulf Fw-190 fighter planes intercepted the bomber and attacked. The Luftwaffe fighters shot away the B-17’s vertical stabilizers. After struggling for several minutes to remain in the formation, the B-17 went into a dive and crashed into the Baltic Sea. Five parachutes were seen evacuating the doomed aircraft. The enemy shot down 64 heavy bombers on April 11, 1944, one of the heaviest single-day losses in World War II.

Deamer was killed in action on April 11, 1944 when his B-17 was shot down over Rostock, Germany and crashed into the Baltic Sea. It is not known whether Deamer was one of the crew who parachuted from the bomber. He was 21-years old. All 10 of the aircraft’s crew members perished. No remains were ever recovered. Deamer was memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, England. He posthumously received the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

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Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smartphone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring all 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania. To volunteer or for more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.

Photo courtesy of Stories Behind the Stars
SSG Raymond K. ‘Duke’ Deamer