[aaatripp]

A quiet, thoughtful & respectful pause to remember Don M. Beerbower and Wallace N. "Bud" Emmer. They were best friends and leaders in the 353rd Fighter Squadron. When 353FS CO Jack Bradley went home on leave, Don moved up to take command of the "Fighting Cobras". By 9 Aug he had pinned on his oak leaves as a Major in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Don's tentmate from St. Louis was Capt. Bud (also "Wally") Emmer.

They had been classmates in 42-J at Luke Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Like Bradley, Don was part of the original group in the formation of the 354FG at Hamilton Field, CA. Bud came over from the 20FG at Paine Field shortly after. That famous 353FS photo of the men standing in front of the hangar on 29 July 43 shows Bradley kneeling to the right, Don with his B flight (front row, right half) and Bud with D flight (back row, right half). They were at the Tonopah gunnery range in NV for training prior to deploying to the ETO. So many of those guys would not return:

CO Owen Seaman, CO Don Beerbower, Wah Kah Kong ("No Tickee, No Washee" & "Chinamans Chance"), Don McDowell, James "Snapper" Parsons, Bud Emmer, Edward "Edy" Hunt.

Also, there would be POWs from the 353rd: James Cannon (Ldr A Flt), Buford Eaves (Ldr C Flt), Bud Emmer (CO/OPSO/Ldr D Flt) (later died) and Ed Regis.

Also in the Tonopah photo, a member of Don's B Flt, was Felix M. "Mike" Rogers who would assume command of the 353rd the evening of that fateful day. The 354th CO, Col. George Bickell, wouldn't let Mike fly the evening mission and said: I've already lost two commanders, I'm not going to lose a third!

We remember all these guys for their service, dedication, patriotism and sacrifice....Thank you Boys....Rest in Peace.

Note: D Flt member and former POW, Ed Regis, survives and lives in California....Best wishes, Ed & Betty!

Tripp