9 Aug 44 - 3 COs in a day - 353FS/354FG/9AF

[aaatripp]

9 Aug 44 - 'Lest We Forget

This day would remain forever in the history of the 353FS (354FG, 9AF) as a sad day.

On 354FG Mission #2 (16 P-51s, t/o 1103) from ALS-2 (American Landing Strip #2) near Cricqueville, France, the Sqdn CO Maj. Don M. Beerbower (from Hill City, MN, flying his "Bonnie B II," marking FT-E) was shot down and KIA by ground fire while strafing approx. 30+ Ju 88s at a German airfield 3 mi. north of Reims, France. At this time he was officially credited with 15.5 aerial victories.

Sqdn Operations Officer (OPSO), Capt. Wallace N. Emmer (from St. Louis, MO, flying his "Arson's Reward," marking FT-G) led Mission #5 (12 P-51s, t/o 1658) in the Red One position and was shot down approx. 5 mi. north of Rouen, France (just east of the Seine River), when a German 88 flak round hit his fuselage fuel tank at 1855 at approx. 11,000 ft. Emmer was badly burned exiting his burning P-51D, but his parachute was observed at approx. 10,500 ft. by 1Lt. Theodore W. Sedvert (flying in the Blue Two position, 353FS). Emmer was captured and later died of myocarditis at 1410 on 15 Feb 45 while departing the Dulag Luft Wetzlar camp (see earlier posts on this thread). Capt. Emmer had 14 confirmed aerial kills.

On a brighter note:
Capt. Felix M. Rogers (from Newton, MA, flying his "Beantown Banshee," marking FT-O), who had been on the morning mission with Beerbower,
became acting CO of the 353rd but was kept from flying as Group did not want to lose "a 3rd CO in a day." Mike Rogers went on to a long Air Force career, retiring as a 4-star general. He is credited with 7 aerial victories.

Our eternal thanks to these fine aces who protected our country.

Tripp Alyn

[aaatripp]

I spoke with Gen. Rogers several years ago and he mentioned that the German power lines drooped. Thus it was difficult to impossible to fly under the power lines and it was necessary to climb a bit on the run to the airfield. The 353FS formation was line abeam to concentrate fire and to assure no stragglers could be zeroed in on. Beerbower attacked from a different direction to draw the a/a fire. As Beerbower made a 2nd pass and climbed slightly to avoid the power lines, the a/a gunners were able to hit BONNIE B II. Reports have Beerbower only able to climb to 500', where he attempted to bail out. Reports also have him being struck by the tail of the a/c and falling to the ground with no opening of his 'chute. Other reports have him surviving on the ground, but dying shortly thereafter. Any help with these details would be appreciated.

In Gen. James H. Howard's book TALE OF THE TIGER there is a photo of Beerbower & Emmer together but has an incorrect caption saying that they died one day apart. Beerbower died on 9 Aug 44 and Emmer's dod was 15 Feb 45 in Dulag Luft Wetzlar. Still, it is a great photo of these two great airmen, 353FS leaders and tentmates.

Tripp Alyn

[JACK COOK]

Don's brother Darrel was a very good friend of mine and gave me a number of photos, clippings and Don's wings and British DFC award. He said that it was reported to them that Don survived the fall but died shortly thereafter. Jim Howard told me that Beerbower was the finest combat pilot/leader he'd served with during his military career.

[aaatripp]

To Jack Cook----curious where you found the great photos of Bud with Capt. Matson (in front of "Stars Look Down") and "best buddies" the
shot of Bud with Don Beerbower?

As for the pic of Bud receiving the Silver Star from Lt. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton, that frame also appears on the The 354 FG DVD produced by Victory Films where you can see the still photographers in the background.
BTW, on that DVD are great shots of Don Beerbower and his Silver Star, the tray holding all of the medals to be presented, plus FT-G (Bud's assigned a/c) taking off from ALS-2 for a brief "airshow."

Tripp Alyn
aaatripp@cox.net

[aaatripp]

Please note the attached Statements by eyewitnesses on 9 Aug 44 to the loss of two COs:

1. Pilots Carr & Deeds re Maj. Donald M. Beerbower & BONNIE B II (FT-E)

2. Pilot Sedvert re Capt. Wallace N. Emmer & ARSON'S REWARD (FT-G)


Tripp

[aaatripp]

'Lest We Forget.....65 years later we honor tentmates, good friends and the CO and OPSO of the 353FS Cobras. Maj. Donald M. Beerbower was lost to ground fire after pinning on his new major's insignia the morning of his final mission. Capt. Wallace N. Emmer (Wally/Bud) was hit by ground fire and parachuted to safety, but died 6 months later in Dulag Luft Wetzlar, just 3 weeks before the POW camp was liberated.

That afternoon Capt. F. Mike Rogers assumed command of the 353rd. Just weeks ago Gen. Rogers attended the 354FG reunion....almost 65 years after that fateful day in the skies over France.

We remember and thank all these heroes (and their families) for their many sacrifices.

Tripp

[Juha]

Hello Tripp
thanks for your very informative posts!

Juha

[aaatripp]

You're very welcome, Juha. I still remember when my uncle showed me the clippings about Bud....20 years ago, and how much we've learned from all of the excellent sources like: this Forum, the living veterans of the 354th Fighter Group, Frank Olynyk, <354thpmfg.com>, <354thfightergroup.homestead.com>, Daniel Carrizales and Gene Lamar whose dedication maintains these two websites, and especially Pflugplatz Giessen (who started the thread on Bud), and many others (like: cybermodeler.com/history/354fg/354fg.shtml).

Thank you all...!
Tripp

[aaatripp]

Paul Sailer, author of the book "The Oranges are Sweet" about the life of Don M. Beerbower informed me today of the death on 8/23/13 of Frederick "Bud" Deeds, 353FS, who was Don Beerbower's last wingman.....on 9 Aug 44 when Don was shot down by ground fire over the Luftwaffe aerdrome near Reims, France.

An article by Paul Sailer will appear close to this coming Veterans Day on the editorial page of the Omaha World Herald. It is entitled "The Last Wingman".

The eyewitness report from Bud Deeds on 9 Aug 44 was posted earlier in this thread.

Tripp

[aaatripp]

354FG Friends,


I received word just a little while ago from Cathy that Mike Rogers has passed on....in his 90s from the effects of Parkinson's Disease.


What a great guy!....he took over the 353FS on 9 Aug 44, the day that Don Beerbower & Bud (Wally) Emmer were shot down. Mike
stuck with this business and retired as an Air Force 4-star general.


We'll remember Mike & Cathy from our 2009 Reunion in Las Vegas and his excellent quips on the bus ride out to our tour of the Air
Warfare Center at Nellis AFB.


His BEANTOWN BANSHEE FT-O lives on in a great piece of artwork painted some years ago.

Mike was an ace with 7 aerial victories confirmed. He grew up in Newton, MA. and had retired

to the Montecito/Santa Barbara, CA area.




RIP Mike......



Tripp