Samuel Warmuth Peebles Jr. was born on 22 November 1916, the son of Samuel Warmouth Peebles and Anna Mason Gregory
Died 22 November 1944
Buried at Maple View Cemetery, Smyrna, TN
Lt Peebles was the pilot of a Havilland Mosquito NF.MK.XVII, Registrion HK344. He and Ensign Eris Richard Grinndal (obs), U.S. Navy, were killed at Horstead Hall, Norfolk in the United Kingdom when he hit trees after take-off.
The Tennessean, 29 April 1945
Lt Samuel Warmouth Peebles, Jr., USNR, son of Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Peebles, Smyrna, has been awarded the Air Medal posthumously for meritorious achievement in aerial flight, it has been announced by the navy department.Lieutenant Peebles graduated from Smyrna High School in the spring of 1934, and from Harding College, Seacy, Ark., in June, 1938. During the first year of college, he was editor of his college and college paper and following graduation he was with the News Journal, Murfreesboro, and the Nashville Times, Two years prior to enlistment, he worked for the federal government, Washington, D.C. Enlisting in the U.S. Naval Reserve in March, 1941, he received his wings in February, 1942, after which he served as instructor for two years at Florida bases. Lieutenant Peebles was sent to England in June, 1944, for further training and while there he volunteered for service with the RAF. He was killed in a plane crash during his last operational flight in England on November 22nd, 1944, his 28th birthday anniversary.
Following is the test of the citation: “For meritorious achievement in aerial flight as a pilot and voluntary member of a night fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during operations against enemy German aircraft and flying bombs in the Great Britaiu area from October 1 to November 22, 1944. A daring and intrepid airman, exceptionally skilled in night flying on instruments, Lieutenant Peebles carried out many night combat patrols at perilously low altitudes frequently under extremely adverse weather conditions. Bold and aggressive in his tactics, he was largely responsible, on one occasion, for the interception and destruction of a deadly German flying bomb and was taking part in a later patrol, initiated specifically to intercept a raid by hostile fly-bomb launching aircraft, when his plane crashed. His valiant fighting spirit and courageous disregard for personal safety in the fulfillment of those hazardous missions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.”
Picture from Harding College, Seacy, Arkansas, yearbook 1938
- Rank: Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 22 November 1916
- Date of death: 22 November 1944
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: 68 Squadron RAF
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Maple View Cemetery, Smyrna, Rutherford County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XII, Top Panel
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