Archive Report: Allied Forces

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71 (Eagle) Squadron Hurricane I V6983 P/O. Edwin Ezell Orbison

Operation: Patrol

Date: 09th February 1941 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron (motto: 'First from the eyries')

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: V6983

Code: XR-?

Base: RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire

Location: Redbourne, Lincolnshire

Pilot: P/O Edwin Ezell Orbison 84659 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Intoned in a mid-air collision the previous month which resulted in the death of another 71 squadron pilot, P/O. Phillip Lecrone. Further details here.

Taking off in the same aircraft damaged earlier in the mi-air accident, on a patrol over Donna Nook at 13:53 hrs with P/O. Dean Herbert Satterlee 1699492 RAFVR (1).

It seems that he became disoriented and lost his bearings when flying through thick clouds, he spun in from 4,000' and lost his life. P/O. Satterlee landed safely back at base at 14:10 hrs.

(note: some reports state that he had bailed out, but we are unable to confirm this).

Above L-R: P/O. Orbison and P/O. Satterlee

Burial details:

The pilot had a full military funeral on the 12th February 1941.

P/O Edwin Ezell Orbison. Kirton-in-Lindsey Cemetery. Block A. Row 17. Grave 184. Born in Jackson County, Oklahoma in 1918. When he left he told his parents that he Was Doing 'Something I Like'.

Joined the RAF in Canada and sailed to Liverpool on the SS 'Duchess of Richmond' arriving in early July 1940. Son of Curtis Ezell Orbison (died in March 1975, age 80) and Vena Alice (née Hand, later Clark - died 24th July 1980, age 78) of Gould, Oklahoma, USA.

(1). Dean Herbert Satterlee. Born on the 09th July 1916 in Sacramento, California, USA. Joined 72 Squadron on the 10th December 1940. Retired as a Lt.Col and passed away on the 12th February 1996 in Corvallis, Oregon, age 79. Buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon. Plot 2. Grave 1674.

Son of Ivan Claude Satterlee (died 05th June 1970, age 70) and Olive Stella Satterlee (née Shier - died 11th April 1927, age 48. Husband of Floris Chapman Satterlee (née Snyder - died 18th March 2002, age 82) He married on the 30th July 1940, father of Dee Mardelle Satterlee (later Giles - died 16th February 2008, age 64), California, United States.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archive, Kew. AIR-27-623-1/2.

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