Walter Derdzenski was born on April 19, 1923, in Manlius, Onondaga County, New York. He was the son of Alexander Derdzenski and Apolonia "Pauline" Cierpial Derdzenski. A graduate of Eastwood High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November 1942 and underwent training at Atlantic City, Keesler Field in Mississippi, and Fort Myers, Florida, before deploying overseas in November 1943. He served in the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Engineer of B-24H #42-64438 nicknamed “Snow Goose'' aka ''Ramblin Wreck'' during World War II.

On December 22, 1943, the aircraft took off from RAF Tibenham in Norfolk, England, as part of a bomber formation assigned to attack the railway yards at Osnabrück, Germany, an important transportation center used by the German military during World War II. Although the bomber successfully reached the target area, a technical malfunction prevented the crew from releasing their bombs. Still carrying the full bomb load, the aircraft turned back toward England and began the hazardous return flight across occupied Europe. While flying over Friesland in the Netherlands, the B-24 was intercepted by two German fighters. A fierce aerial engagement followed as the American crew fought to defend the bomber from repeated attacks. The Liberator’s gunners returned fire, but the aircraft sustained heavy damage from German cannon and machine-gun fire. Severely damaged and engulfed in flames, the bomber began rapidly losing altitude. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing near Bolsward, close to the Witteveen family farm known as Spreeuwenstein. At approximately 2:30 PM, the aircraft crashed about one kilometer south-southeast of Bolsward. The bomber exploded on impact and continued burning for several hours as the onboard bomb load detonated. None of the crew survived.

SSgt Derdzenski is now buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Geddes, Onondaga County, New York, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.wandelpaden.com