Edward Paul “Pete” De Brular was born on March 30, 1923, in Indiana. He resided in Allen County, Indiana, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on February 13, 1943, in Toledo, Ohio. Pete De Brular graduated from the Masonic Home’s high school in 1941 then worked on aircraft production until 1943 when he enlisted in the USAAF. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft Single without dependents.

In April 1944, following Combat Crew Training in Tucson, Arizona, Sgt ‘Pete’ DeBrular sailed to the UK on board the liner Queen Elizabeth his ‘seat’ on the aircraft “Sugar N’ Spice” being taken by 1st Lt Nicholas Warner.

Pete’s first operational mission was on May 11, 1944, in 44-40146 ‘Sugar-N- Spice’ he flew two more missions in this aircraft the six remaining missions were in a variety of other ‘ships.’

Commencing operations on 11th May with the first of eight successful missions three of which are known to have been in “Sugar-N-Spice” the remainder were flown in a selection of aircraft as they became available. The fatal ninth mission was in B24 H (42-95160) which was on its fourth mission with the 856 BS.

A gunner on the airplane, B-24H #42-95160 took off from England on a bombing mission over Avord, France. For an unknown reason, the plane stalled and spun out of control, and crashed at Garvestone, Norfolk, England.

SSgt De Brular is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.garveston12.org.uk