Emerson Hobart Dedrick was born December 26, 1918 in Bainbridge, NY to Hobert Dedrick (1878-1953), from Sidney Center, NY,a farmer and Mary Jane Finch (1880-1965), also from Sidney Center, NY, a home maker.  His parents were married on March 20, 1900 in Sidney Center, NY.  Sometime in his youth (between the ages of 6-11) the family moved to nearby Oneonta, NY. He had two older sisters Phileina and Lavinda. He graduated from Oneonta High School in 1936 where he picked up his nickname “Duck”, was a member of the Inter-Class Council and “blew a mean horn” for the Band and Orchestra. He was also on the Rifle Club and in the Athletic Association.

He graduated from the local State Teacher's College in Oneonta (now SUNY Oneonta) before attending the University of Iowa. While at the U. of Iowa he was surprised on his 21st birthday with a party at his parent’s house on “southside” in Oneonta, NY. The 1941 U. of Iowa Hawkeye yearbook reported him as a junior “Liberal Arts, Oneonta, New York, Oneonta State Normal; Phi Delta Alpha; University Band.” There is no mention of him in the 1942 Hawkeye, which would have been his senior year.

According to an article in the Binghamton Evening Sun and Press, he entered the Marine Corp in May of 1941. At the time he entered the Marines he was 6' tall and weighed in at 172 pounds. He reported for duty to the Marine Aviation Detachment (MAD) in Pensacola, Florida and earned his commission and wings in January 1942. After earning his wings, he was assigned to Marine Fighter Squadron 122 (VMF-122), known as the “Candystripers”. While with VMF-122 he was promoted to Captain. He flew numerous missions with VMF-122 including combat missions on Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, and the Rendova and Munda (Solomon Islands) campaigns.

In August of 1943 he recounted his shooting down of a Japanese Zero in action over Kolombangara Island in the central Solomons. His squadron went up to intercept 20 Japanese twin-engine bombers and 50 Zeros attempting a raid on American ground troops on Munda.

“Part of the squadron went after the bombers, but I went after their cover of Zeros. One didn’t wait for me and dove to attack. I swerved to the right to let him pass, swung onto his tail and followed him down to be sure of him.” 

Capt. Dedrick, “Oneonta Marine Pilot Downs 2nd Jap Zero”, Albany Time Union, August 20, 1943.

He was credited with flying numerous missions during the Solomon Island campaign and among other things, shooting down two Japanese Zeros, sinking five oil barges and helping to sink two enemy destroyers.

In 1943 he was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro near Irvine, California. While there he was attached to VMF-451 (“Blue Devils”) out of Mojave, California. VMF-451 spent a year training for carrier-based operations after which it was attached to the carrier USS Bunker Hill. In October 1944 Captain Dedrick was promoted to Major. As such, he was division commander of Marine pilots on the carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). During this time he participated with his flight of 15 Corsair fighter planes in a

“daring coordinated rocket bombing and strafing attack against a large enemy carrier, a small carrier and Kure naval base arsenal”

and that he

“plunged through intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire dauntlessly pressing home his attack until he was within 1500 feet of the closely grouped targets to share in scoring three definite rocket hits on the large carrier and 12 hits on the arsenal.”

He actively participates in other aerial action against the Japanese at Kune naval base, Iwo Jima, Kyushu and Nansei Shoto area from Feb. 19, 1945 until March 19, 1945.

Major Dedrick is killed in action off Okinawa on March 24, 1945 . The circumstances under which he died show evidence of great heroism. Operating from the carrier USS Bunker Hill, his plane ran into heavy flak and was so badly damaged that it could not be landed on the flight deck upon returning to his ship. Ordered to land on the water or bail out, he chose to stay with his plane and try to land it safely. According to John Gutman in his story about WWII ace Archie Donahue,

“Also badly hit was the Corsair of VMF-451’s Major Emerson H. Dedrick. Advised to ditch rather than land, he flipped over in the water and went down with his plane.”

Offical Navy documents stated, “ The plane was too badly damaged to stay afloat and sank instantly, carrying Major Dedrick with it before a boat crew could reach him. “

Also lost that day from the Bunker Hill were Ltjg C.J.C. Davis, 2nd Lt. Richard Washey, Commander George M. Ottinger and 1stLt. John Jorgensen. A memorial service for Major Dedrick was held at the First Methodist Church back in his hometown, Oneonta, NY on July 9, 1945.

Major Emerson H. Dedrick was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Gold Star in lieu of his second Air Medal. He had previously been awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart. An article in the December 12, 1946 Oneonta Herald entitled “Maj. Dedrick's Parents Given Two Air Medals”, is worth a read. This article is available in the Supporting Files section at the bottom of this page. 

If you notice errors in this profile please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com.

References

"Archie Donahue:World War II Ace Pilot”, by Guttman,Jon,https://www.historynet.com/archie-donahue-wwii-ace-pilot/ , accessed May 22, 2022.

“E.H. Dedrick of Oneonta on Missing List”, Press and Sun Bulletin, Binghamton, NY, April 21, 1945, pg. 1

Emerson H Dedrick, https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=94950, accessed May 22, 2022.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89268101/emerson-hobart-dedrick: accessed 02 March 2023), memorial page for MAJ Emerson Hobart Dedrick (26 Dec 1918–24 Mar 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 89268101, citing Highland Cemetery, Sidney Center, Delaware County, New York, USA; Maintained by JTF (contributor 47185176). 

Hawkeye, University of Iowa yearbook, 1941, pg. 42, 43. accessed at https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/islandora/object/ui%3Ayrbks2_27105#page/42/mode/2up, May 22, 2022.

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri;WWII Draft Registration Cards for New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group:Records of the Selective Service System, 147

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

New York State Marriage Index, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY. 

New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA;New York State Birth Index

“Oneonta Marine Pilot Downs 2nd Jap Zero”, Albany Times Union, Albany, NY, August 20, 1943, pg 2.

“Oneontan Bags Second Jap Zero”, Binghamton Sun and Evening Press, August 19, 1943, pg. 3.

United States of America, Bureau of the Census.Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

"U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name:Oneonta Senior High School; Year:1936

VMFA-122 History, https://www.3rdmaw.marines.mil/Units/MAG-13/VMFA-122/VMFA-122-History/, accessed May 22, 2022.

VMFA-451 'Warlords',https://seaforces.org/usmcair/VMFA/VMFA-451.htm, accessed May 22, 2022

Supporting Files