Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-26
Biographies Of SixsReservists
Who Died in Air Collision
Naval Ayiutors
Were Residents Of
Washington Area

The six victims Of yesterdays
two-plane crash near Baltimore
were all residents Of the Wash
ington area. They were:
Comdr. Edward B. McDermitt
of the 5000 block of wildwood
drive, Takoma Park, Md, the
pilot was assistant parts man
ager for Stewart Motors. He was
80 years old, native OF Washing
ton where he attended school
and before World War II, at
tended naval pre-flight training
school, at Corpus Christi. Tex.
He entered the Navy in 1912
as an ensign. He served in the
South Pacific and participated
in the sinking of a japanese
destroyer and was awarded the
Bronze Star. He held numerous
ribbons and medals for his serv-
ice.
He is survived by his widow
the former Miss Genevieve
Gallo of Hagerstown, Md. and
two children. Rose Ann, 10 and
Edward Vincent. 10 months, and
his father. Thomas j. Nc
Dermitt of Beckley, w. Va. His
widow was a nurse at George
town University Hospital.
Comdr. McDermitt lived with
his aunt, Mrs. Norman H. Drake
of 5727 Colorado avenue. NV,
before entering the service. He
attended Columbus University,
where he studied law.
Cashier at Garage.
He was cashier for the Capitol
Garage on New York avenue.
near Thirteenth street NV. Just
before entering the service.
His mother was the late Mrs.
Regina Martin McDermitt Of
Cumberland, Md. who died Sep
TENDER 80. 1910.
He is also survived by a num-
Der of sisters and brothers: Mrs.
Mary Cohn of Beckley. w. Va,
John McDermitt of Altoona, Pa,
Mrs. John j. Crosby of Jersey
City, and Thomas j. McDermitt
of Silver Spring, Md, a District
policeman.
Yesterday morning he left
home for his customary week.
end training at the Naval Air
Reserve Command at Anacostia.
Once a month he took long dis
lance training flights and for
two weeks during the summer
he went on active duty near
Virginia Beach, Va, at Oceania.
He was a member of Our
Lady of Sorrows Church, Ia
koma Park. Md, and of the Holy
Name Society of that parish. He
was also a member of the
knights of Columbus, Rosensteel
Council of Silver Spring.
Beltsville BOtanist.
1t. Comdr. Charles A. Kent,
5412 Riverdale road. East River
dale, Md, was "a and an Agri-
culture Department botanist at
Beltsville. Md. @
He worked as a seed tech
nolegistI on experimental work
in sampling and blending of
vegetable seeds. He took his job
at the station in 1948 and later
was recalled to active duty dur
ing the Korean War.
Cmtr. Kent obtained his
bachelor of arts degree at Ship
pensburg State Teachers College,
Pa, and his masters degree in
botany at the University of
Pittsburgh. He was born near
Harrisburg. Pa.
He is survived by his widow,
Mrs. Sally Kent. and two daugh-
ter. Susan, about Z. and Deborah,
about 5.
Won Wings in 1914.
1t. David J. Croker. 90, was
employed by the Western Elec-
trio Co. as pilot engineer at
the Friendship Airport.
A graduate of Leesburg (Va.)
High School and of Virginia
Polytechnic Institute. he went
into the Navy as a cadet in 1913.
He got his wings at Corpus
Christi, Tex. in 1914 and has
been a reserve officer, lieutenant
jig, since he left the service
in 1916.
He was interested in flying
all his life" his father. S. j.
Croker Of Purcellville, Va, said