Captain Douglas Everett Booth was born on 1 June 1919 in New York City, New York, USA, the son of Everett Lucius Booth (1890-1976) and Esther Booth née Fogg (1892-1986). United States Federal Census returns in 1920, 1930 & 1940 show that he was living in the Manhattan area of New York.
In 1940 he was training as a service pilot at the Dallas Aviation School, Texas, USA, and later that year he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in Canada via the Clayton Knights Committee before coming to England where he began operational training. In 1941, as a Flying Officer, he was attached to No.121 Squadron based at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire.
He volunteered to go to Malta, and on 20 April 1942 took off from the aircraft carrier USS Wasp as part of Operation Calendar. He was transferred to No.126 Squadron and took part in the Defence of Malta until 29 September 1942 when he was returned to RAF Debden to became part of the 336th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group in the 8th Air Force of USAAF.
On 28 January 1943 he was promoted to First Lieutenant and on 25 May 1943 he was transferred to the 334th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group, ending his tour of duty on 23 September 1943.
On 22 May 1944 he married Jean B. Booth (1921-1975) and following the end of World War Two he had a career in accounting becoming a finance director of a company in the City of Sault-Sainte Marie, Chippewa County, Michigan, USA. His wife died on 3 November 1975 and on 9 September 1978 he was remarried to Rosemary E. E. Dolling (1923-2014).
He died, aged 70 years, on 28 July 1989, in Petoskey, Emmet County, Michigan and was buried in Riverside Cemetery, 3000-3320 S Riverside Drive, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, United States. He had been awarded the Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the World War II Victory Medal.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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