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  #51  
Old 21st February 2011, 05:34
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

Ah, that would be on 22 July 44 at A-2 near Criqueville, France. Nice film of
the ceremonies....thanks!
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  #52  
Old 23rd February 2011, 20:58
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

15 Feb 45 - 'Lest We Forget:

On this 66th anniversary of Bud's death as a POW at Dulag Luft Wetzlar it's important to say thanks and remember those who helped in various ways. During these years of research into the fate of the Emmer boys, certain new facts have been discovered.

1. To Lt. Col. Edward Regis, USAF (Ret.) for escorting Bud back to base on 21 Feb 44, when he experienced engine trouble while returning from a mission to Brunswick. He could have been bounced by Luftwaffe fighters if you hadn't been there to help your flight leader.

2. To Theodore Sedvert, Indianapolis, Ind, who gave an eyewitness report that he had seen a parachute at approx. 10,500 ft. This was 500 ft. below their altitude when ARSON'S REWARD (FT-G) was hit by a German 88mm AAA shell while returning from an armed recce sweep near Rouen, France. This gave hope, to his unit and his family, that Bud, who was leading the mission as RED ONE, had survived the explosion aboard his a/c and was still alive.

3. To the families of Fred Wolter and Jim Howard. Both later relayed news to his parents that Bud had survived his fiery bailout from ARSON'S REWARD (FT-G) on 9 Aug and that he was being cared for in German hospitals.

4. SSgt. Don Beal who helped Bud into the air raid shelter at Dulag Luft Wetzlar and onto a bench during an air raid only 1-2 days before he died. Bud received severe burns to his legs and had trouble walking. Don's compassion for helping a fellow airman, while showing proper respect to an officer, are proud qualities of America's airmen.

5. Fellow members of the 354FG Jim Howard, David O'Hara, Robert Goodnight who joined Col. Christine (from Scott Field)---thank you for coming to St. Louis for the presentation on 8 Apr 45 of Bud's medals to his parents. Also, to the Boy Scouts of Troop 90 who provided a fitting color guard for the ceremony.

6. To "Willie Y" Anderson, a squadron mate of Bud's, who sent flowers to the family. Willie Y, an ace (7) of the 353FS, retired after a long career as a senior captain with United Airlines.

7. To the AmVets organization for naming a St. Louis post in memory of the Emmer brothers. And, to Lou Heyman, a member of that post, who served as a pallbearer in Ray's funeral when the boys were brought home from Europe in 1948 for internment in St. Louis. (The AmVets post no longer exists)

8. To William B. Williams, best friend of Bud's brother Ray, who tried to save him that night of 18 Nov 44 when Ray was hit by shrapnel, just west of Eudenbreth, Germany and just east of the Intl. Hwy. which marked the Belgian-German border.

9. To SSgt Fred Zimmerman of H Co, 394th Inf. Regiment, 99th Division who protected Ray when he was harassed by others. Regrettably, Sgt. Zimmerman was killed in the opening barrage of German artillery, early in the morning of 16 Dec 44....the first shots of the Battle of the Bulge. Ironically Zimmerman, who was recovering from wounds suffered in the mortar barrage which killed Ray, had just exchanged places on either side of a 30cal machine gun with Bill Williams and was now closer to the entrance of the foxhole. He was severely wounded in the barrage and tried to make it to an aid station. Sgt. Zimmerman was subsequently hit by a shellburst and was most likely killed instantly. Thanks to Bill Warnock for writing in great detail about this segment of the history of the 99th Division.

10. To Flugplatz Giessen - for sending to his family the photo of Bud's burial on 18 Feb 45 in Bublinghausen, Germany, with honors rendered by German soldiers (Fielen dank).

Again, a warm thank you to these kind folks from the family of the Emmer boys.

Tripp

Last edited by aaatripp; 24th February 2011 at 06:57. Reason: alignment & addtl. details
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  #53  
Old 24th February 2011, 00:47
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

I have located the info. to confirm the answer to my earlier question:


The French Croix de Guerre with Palm was awarded to the 354FG to cover
the period of: 1 Dec 1943-31 Dec 1944.


Source: <http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9966>


Tripp
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  #54  
Old 26th February 2011, 02:49
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

Regarding post #52, items 8 & 9:

Bill Williams, like Ray Emmer, was part of the ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program) where approx. 200,000 army men, who had scored higher on their AGCT scores, were placed in special technical training at more than 200 colleges for education in medicine, dentistry, languages, engineering & personnel psychology.

When battle casualties began taking their toll on mlty. personnel readiness levels it was decided to shift many men from the ASTP to infantry & airborne divisions. Many of these men could easily have succeeded in OCS yet they were transferred into infantry divisions as privates (even though some may have had higher ranks). When Bill Williams, Ray Emmer and others reached the 99th Division at Camp Maxey, Texas, they were viewed as a threat ("smart college boys") by non-comms & other enlisted in the division. Hazing and harassment occurred and Ray was beaten up by his squad Sgt. in F Co. 394th Infantry Regiment. Ray was transferred to H Co. This was not a proud day for the U.S. Army!

This note is added so that you can understand our gratitude for Sgt. Fred Zimmerman for protecting his men (including Ray Emmer).
Tripp
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  #55  
Old 18th November 2011, 04:15
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

As 18 November nears it's time to pause and remember that Bud's younger brother Ray was mortally wounded on this day by a German mortar barrage.
Earlier posts detail the events of that evening, so we'll simply say:

Ray, how can we say thanks for your service & your ultimate sacrifice? The best way is to never forget!

PFC Raymond P. Emmer, USA - KIA 18 Nov 44 (his brother's birthday....)

Tripp
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  #56  
Old 15th February 2012, 18:22
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

'Lest We Forget.........a moment to remember Capt. Bud (Wally) Emmer, acting CO of the 353FS for only a few hours, who died this day 67 years ago at the Dulag Luft POW camp in Wetzlar, Germany.
You're remembered warmly by your family---very proud of your leadership during wartime and your accomplishments as an aviator.

And also a warm thanks to Flugplatz Giessen for starting this discussion thread which affords us an opportunity to honor and remember Bud.

RIP with your brother Ray.

Tripp

Last edited by aaatripp; 15th February 2012 at 22:33. Reason: addtl. comments
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  #57  
Old 25th February 2012, 21:31
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

COLLECTED DATA ON AERIAL VICTORY CREDITS
Capt. Wallace N. Emmer, USAAF (1 Dec 43 - 9 Aug 44)
353FS 354FG XIX TAC 9AF

AVC SEQUENCE & AIRCRAFT INFO:

FT-G Ser. #43-6430 "PEACEFUL PENGUIN" P-51B (Total = 1)
1 - 13 Apr 44 FW-190

FT-G Ser. #(unknown) "ARSON'S REWARD" P-51B (Total = 6)
2 - 13 May 44 ME-109s (2) (Bud became an Ace)
3 - 28 May 44 ME-109s (2)/FW-190 (1)
1 - 12 Jun 44 FW-190

FT-G Ser. #44-13400 "ARSON'S REWARD" P-51D (Total = 3)
.5- 29 Jun 44 FW-190 (shared)
2.5-26 Jul 44 ME-109s (2.5)

FT-G Ser. #44-13948 "ARSON'S REWARD" P-51D (Total = 1)
1- 7 Aug 44 ME-109

Also, 3 other AVCs (all against ME-109s) in FT-J, FT-V, FT-W.
Clearly Bud's greatest success was with his new B model in May/June '44. He became
a Double Ace on 14 June 44. Of course, the main factors for e/a encounters were types
of missions, weather, location, role, timing in the war, pure chance, etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOME CORRECTIONS TO EARLIER POSTS:

1. We'll just say that the photo of Bud, standing in front of his "new"
P-51B "Arson's Reward", was most likely taken sometime between
13 May and 28 May ----6 victories shown below canopy.

2. Note from #33 on 31 Jul 2009----Bud had his new P-51D Ser.
#44-13400 for a while since he had AVCs on 6/29 & 7/26 before it was
washed out on 3 Aug.

3. Ser. #43-6430 is the correct and complete ID for the Peaceful Penguin.

Thanks again to Frank Olynyk for providing so much data on Bud's AVCs.

Tripp

Last edited by aaatripp; 25th February 2012 at 21:45. Reason: add data
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  #58  
Old 25th February 2012, 23:57
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

Photo of Bud Emmer during 353FS training at Portland AAB, Oregon. 1943.
He's flying the P-39 "My Baby" #12, Ser.# 29111.

Also, Bud stands over the smouldering remains of P-51B (FT-G) "PEACEFUL PENGUIN",
Ser. #43-6430, after an explosion and fire during servicing of the oxygen unit on 4 May 44.

Tripp

Last edited by aaatripp; 26th February 2012 at 00:01. Reason: realignment
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  #59  
Old 28th February 2012, 01:30
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

ADDITIONAL NOTES: To #25 posted on 10/6/2008

1. The P-51B pictured is Bud's FT-G, but no Ser. # has yet been found.
This was the a/c in which he scored 6 AVCs.

2. The D-model showing 11 victories is Ser. #44-13400 and the photo
must be from early to mid-July (since Bud chalked up AVCs 12 & 13
on 26 July 44). Bud scored 3 AVCs in this a/c.


This means that no photos of Bud's last a/c, Ser. #44-13948, have ever been shown. Can anyone post a shot of the last "ARSON'S REWARD" ?
Thanks,

Tripp

Last edited by aaatripp; 28th February 2012 at 08:04. Reason: minor corrections
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  #60  
Old 28th February 2012, 15:09
aaatripp aaatripp is offline
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Re: Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

Reminder: the damaged P-51D which is photographed on the ground in "History in the Sky" is #44-13400 on 3 Aug 44, following a landing accident which occurred while Franklin "Bud" Rose, Jr. was returning from Mission #185, a bomber escort mission to protect B-26s flying to Chartres. Fortunately, Rose was unhurt in the crash.

On 4 Aug Bud (Emmer) flew a different a/c on Mission #186, which was a fighter sweep NE of Paris. He did not fly on the 5th or 6th. On the 7th he led both patrol missions (#190 & 191) over Vire-Argentan-Alencon-Laval in his new a/c and was credited with a confirmed kill of a ME-109 (his 14th and last AVC) sometime around 1520h. No missions were flown on 8 Aug. He did not fly the morning mission (#192 to Flugplatz A213, north of Reims) on 9 Aug, when his CO and longtime buddy, Don Beerbower, was KIA.

....so, we're focusing on a very narrow window (for photos of the a/c) between the time when the new FT-G Ser. #44-13948 was assigned to Bud Emmer and 1658h on the afternoon of 9 Aug 44 when he took off on his last mission (#193), leading the 353FS as Red One (Jacknife 60) on an armed recce back to the Reims area......his 3rd mission in his new "ARSON'S REWARD".

Tripp

Last edited by aaatripp; 28th February 2012 at 22:43. Reason: add data
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