Vic R. Deer was born on January 5, 1922 in Indiana, the son of Oscar W. Deer and Elsie H. Henderson Deer. He served in the 84th Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group as a Captain and Pilot on the C47 #43-15493 plane during World War II. The plane took off from Maisoncelles, France on a Glider Towing mission over Wesel, Germany. The aircraft was hit by flak while towing a glider as part of the Rhein crossing (Operation Varsity). The aircraft was first hit in the right wing behind the engine and subsequently near the navigator's station and in the centre of the aircraft. The two gliders (CG-4A's 43-39755 and 43-27466) were released and the aircraft crashed. One of the crew members was able to bail out. CPT Deere was killed in the crash on March 24, 1945 and is buried now in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana, USA. Some records spell his surname as 'Deere.'

Airmen who perished on C-47A #43-15493:
Deer, Victor R - Capt, Pilot, IN
Gibson, Bryce C, Jr - 1st Lt, Navigator, TX
Nordgren, Earl C - S/Sgt, Radio Operator, WI
Trachta, Eldred - 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CO
T/Sgt. Paul B. LeFever - survived the crash and the war

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://aviation-safety.net