Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

[aaatripp]

18 Nov 44 --- we remember this day when Ray was killed by shrapnel from a German mortar. He was out of his foxhole, which he shared with William B. Williams. They were just east of the Intl. Hwy which marked the border of Belgium & Germany, in the woods just 1/2 mi. west of Udenbreth, Germany. Across from them were the German lines and a Wehrmacht mortar crew had the American positions registered. When Ray lit his cigarette, his buddy Bill told me it was only seconds before a mortar barrage was on its way and the shells exploded nearby. Ray was hit immediately and Bill hauled him back into the foxhole. Ray moaned once.

Ray was thinking of his brother, Bud, a P-51 pilot with the 353FS. A letter from his mother, Blanche, had recently reached him to inform him that Bud had been shot down (9 Aug 44) and was MIA. Ray was convinced that his brother Bud was dead. As Ray lay dying, his brother was in fact a POW in the German camp Dulag-Luft Wetzlar.....less than 100 mi. to the east.....it was Bud's birthday.....

[aaatripp]

After further research I must post a correction to my post of 26 November.

The letter from Col. Charles Stark to Bud's parents (informing them of Bud's death) indicates that Bud arrived at Dulag Luft Wetzlar in late December in "an extremely weakened condition." He was not there on 18 Nov...so, where was he?

Bud's location had been earlier reported as in a hospital between LeHavre & Caen, France. This can be confirmed up to 31 Aug 44 when he and other wounded were evacuated by the Germans due to the advance of British and French underground forces. This was reported by St. Louis bombardier, Fred Wolter, when he was repatriated by Allied forces. Wolter had occupied the bed next to Bud, but was left when the Germans rapidly evacuated the hospital. Most likely Bud remained under medical care for the next several months. Dulag Luft Wetzlar was a transit camp, so there is the possibility that he had been in nearby Dulag Luft Oberusel for interrogation, though his medical condition might have precluded that.

A NARA record of 12 March 45 reports Bud's camp as "Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn, Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08". This camp is approx. 25mi. SW of Wetzlar. The date of the report is nearly a month after Bud's death. Bud's death occurred as he was about to leave D-L Wetzlar bound for permanent hospital (according to Col. Charles W. Stark, USAAF the Senior Allied Officer at D-L Wetzlar) so perhaps Stalag 12A was an earlier location reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross (though, as an USAAF pilot, he should have been in a Stalag Luft). German documents already posted in this thread clearly show that Bud was in D-L Wetzlar at the time of his death. Can anyone explain the Stalag 12A confusion?

Does anyone have any additional info. on Bud's location from 31 Aug. to late December? Any assistance always appreciated.

Thank you.
Tripp

[aaatripp]

A further correction to Jack Cook's post #10 on 17 Feb 08 regarding the photo of Bud receiving a medal:

Capt. Wallace N. Emmer, USAAF is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by Lt. Gen. Lewis Brereton on 2 July 44 in Normandy.

(please note that Bud's Silver Star and his OLC & 2nd OLC to his DFC were not authorized until G.O. #267 by HQ 9AF on 13 Nov 44,
over 3 months after he was shot down. His DSC was authorized 22 Sep 44 by G.O. #69 of HQ US Strategic AF in Europe)

[aaatripp]

To Tom Semenza,

Your patience has been rewarded, Tom. A friend from St. Louis found an online photo of Bud's 1st P-51B "The Peaceful Penguin".
The photo would confirm the info. in my posting #33 on 31 Jul 09 confirming the partial a/c ser. #43-6430.

(please note that this photo is displayed for informational purposes only)