B-17 Pilot killed when he escape

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Hello,

I´searching a Bomber Pilot with the name: Emmerett or Emmett, killed by the germans, when the pilot tried to escape.

Did anybody have some informations about this case or known the pilot and the bomb-group?

Thank you.

[FrankieS]

Hi !
don't know for sure, but looking up American War Grave Commission's
database of KIA/MIA the only matching USAF personal name beginning with "Emme" would be:

William T. Emmet, II
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O-832053
731st Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the Service from: New York
Died: 22-Feb-45
Buried at: Plot D Row 42 Grave 13
Lorraine American Cemetery
St. Avold, France
Awards: Purple Heart

450222 B-17 44-8015 Johnny Reb
battle damaged by flak at Ansbach, B-17 didn*t make it to the target, aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and spun down at Pfaffenhofen

[Peglar]

Hello, i have

Emmerich, Loyd E. SSG 305 BG,

Emmert, Benjamin H. 1Lt 325 FG,

Emmert, Wallace E. 2Lt 305 BG,

Emmer, Wallace N. Capt 354,

hope this helps.

Peglar

[alain charpentier]

Capt Emerett:

"He was a captain of a B17 bomber which was shot down.The aircraft had been badly damaged and he ordered all the crew to bale out. The ball turret gunner below the fuselage of the B17 was unable to get out because of the damage and was killed .
As a result Emerett became very depressed as he held himself responsible for the gunner's death .
Suddenly one day at Dulag Luft he crossed the trip wire and started to climb the camp fence.Immediately the guards started shooting.He was hit .He stopped moving for a moment then started to climb again, jumping across to the outer fence. Meanwhile the guards were still shooting and the main alarm had sounded. Emerett was hit again but managed to get to the ground and start running and limping away.Still the shooting was going on. He fell but got up and limped on .
By now a horde of guards and dogs set off in pursuit. Emerett disappeared over the brow of a hill with the guards following.
Later we were told he was dead .However they would not let Capt Dan MCGowan the paratroop RC padre see the body, not any other member of the POW staff.Subsequently the funeral took place and it was recorded that he had been shot trying to escape. Much later we heard a rumour from one of the guards, that he had been shot in the head while lying wounded on the ground.The person who fired the shot was said to be Hauptmann Schmidt the head of tha Abroehr section at Dulag Luft.
Whether or not that is true I do not know, but we always thought it strange that our padre was not allowed to see the body ." By Peter Gilpin RAF Officer at Dulag Luft.

I put this account in memory of this Officer and for the benefice of all on this forum.
Alain Charpentier.

[Peglar]

Thanks Alain, great Work.

Greetings

Peglar

[Leendert]

Is there more info available about Capt. Emerett? Correct spelling?
This name somehow isn't among those in the POW lists of the online NARA archives. Some googling didn't turn out very successful either...

Any help much appreciated.

Regards,

Leendert

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Hello,

Alain thank you very much for posting the letter of Flt/Lt. Peter Gilpin, Sr. Br.Officer at Dulag Luft Wetzlar.

The question is now: What is the correct name of this B-17 pilot who killed at wetzlar??

Thanks at all who post at my question.

Greetings