REAL NAME: Delmer Van Dyne Sr.
OCCUPATION: Combat Pilot
IDENTITY: Public
CLASS: Normal human
LEGAL STATUS: Citizen of USA
OTHER ALIASES: NA
PLACE OF BIRTH: Quality, USA
MARITAL STATUS: Married
KNOWN RELATIVES: Unnamed wife, Delmer Van Dyne Jr. (son)
GROUP AFFILIATIONS: Death Patrol
BASE OF OPERATIONS: London (England), Santa Muerte Islet (Puerto Rico, USA)
FIRST APPEARANCE: Military Comics #1
(August, 1941)
(August, 1941)
HEIGHT: 6' 1"
WEIGHT: 189 lbs
EYES: Blue
HAIR: Dirty blond
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| Del Van Dyne Jr. |
Delmer Van Dyne worked as a pilot for Universal Airlines, based at Laguardia Field. In 1941 he was fired and stole a Boeing 307 Stratoliner with the intention of flying to England to join the RAF. By chance or fate that same day five escaped convicts hid in that same Boeing 307. The fugitives ordered him to fly to Boston, but in spite of that he headed for England and, along the way, managed to persuade the outlaws (Van Dyne dropped the parachutes out of the plane and threatened to crash the aircraft) to fight the Nazis. The unarmed Boeing 307 arrived in England during a German bombing raid, and the escapees managed to destroy an enemy bomber by throwing oil drums at it. They were immediately recruited by the Special Air Service (SAS). Under Van Dyne's leadership, the motley crew was dubbed the Death Patrol and adopted gray and black striped uniforms as a symbolic gesture. The Death Patrol insignia was a skull with a hat. The team proved to be highly effective, albeit at great cost, losing one member on each mission. Van Dyne himself was assassinated by a member of the French resistance while impersonating a high-ranking Nazi party official (with the intention of assassinating Hitler and ending the war).
Delmer had a son, Delmer Van Dyne Jr. who followed in his father's footsteps in the air force and also in heroism. He was first part of the Ghost Guard, a group of unorthodox heroes, and then, again in the footsteps of his father, as the leader of a new Death Patrol.
POWERS & WEAPONS
Del Van Dyne Sr. was a flying ace and a natural leader. He had learned German at university and was fluent in it.
