May 20,1944 Lt. Emery 31st FG MIA

[kaki3152]

In the case of Lt. Emery who was MIA on May 20,1944. the MAW 6 describes his fate as a crash at Lucera A/f. However, two other sources, "Mustang Ace" by Robert Goebel and "The 31st FG in WWII" have a different explanation. "Mustang Ace" reports that he left San Severo A/F at 0430 am after being at a party all night. "The History of the 31st FG" reports he was killed in Bucharest by AA while strafing.

The MACR 5755 has translated documents from Luftflotte 2 that indicate "one unknown dead". The final document, translated from German, notes: "According to Sea Rescue Leader 3 (?) one enemy craft was downed 20 May 1944 0930 near GAGGIO on the railroad track MESTRE-MONTFALCONE. Craft was 100% destroyed. Only the scorched head of the pilot was found. Name of pilot unknown."

It appears to me that reported cause of Lt Emery's crash at Lucera A/F was confused with the crash of Lt. Boatwright at Lucera on May 20, 1944