Dear Renee,
Hello---it was great to see your recent post on this fine forum.
I've searched for info. for 17 years now on Wallace N. Emmer (Bud or Wally), who was your late father's flight lead (D Flt.). Please search this forum under "EMMER" and you will find 3-4 threads I've posted to this Forum with addtl. info. about the 353FS. I'll be glad to help you find many avail. web items.
You're in for some great rewards to your search, in addition to the MACR &
Eyewitness Report already posted by Revi16. Mike provided the link to the
354FG website hosted by Gene Lamar, in honor of his dad, Robert Lamar. This is a great place for you to visit and will provide a lot of info.
Also, Mike's other link is the active website of the 354FG Assn. Many members are still living, active, working on the group histories and they still meet annually....this year's reunion will be held in July. I suggest that
you join as an Associate member.
www.354thpmfg.com There are many
family members in the Assn., with whom you have much in common.
In addition to Mike's info. about your father's last a/c (P-51D, FT-S) he is
also listed with P-51B "Smoldering Boulder" a/c#42-106597. Do you know
if your dad graduated from Advanced Flt. Trng. with Class 42-I at Luke
Field (Phoenix, AZ)?
Please note these items:
1.
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/..._gallery.shtml
This contains many, many items of interest---leaders, aircraft,markings
and cowling colors of the 3 fighter squadrons within the 354th.
2.
http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/...353board.shtml
The 353FS board which shows leaders & staff plus all 4 of the flights.
Your father is in D Flt. at the lower right. This board originated when
the sqdn. was training in Portland, Ore. in Bell P-39 Airacobras (hence
the 353rd became the "Cobras." This board remained with the 353rd
through England and then at bases on the continent.
3.
http://www.cybermodeler.net/history/...es/353d_02.jpg
A truly great photo of the Cobras at Tonopah, Nev. on 29 July 43.
D Flt. is back row from the Flt. Leader, Bud Emmer (dark coveralls), to
the right: Bud, Eagleston, Stretz, Regis, Uhlenberg & a great pic of
your dad. Missing from the photo are D Flt. members Art Owen &
Donald Schultz. Of this original group Ed Regis and Donald Schultz are
still living & active (I'm not sure about Stretz & Uhlenberg).
4.
http://354thfightergroup.homestead.com/LAnderson.html
Lars Andersen, of Victory Films, has produced this amazing DVD of the
354th Pioneer Mustang Fighter Group. It will give you the feeling that
"you are there." Your daughter can now connect more directly with the
life of her grandfather during WWII in the ETO.
Please send me an email to:
aaatripp@cox.net Hope this helps get you
started on the next phase of your search.
With best regards,
Tripp Alyn