Wallace Nathan Emmer (November 18, 1917 – February 15, 1945) was a United States Army Air Force fighter ace who was credited with shooting down 14 aircraft during World War II. He was also one of the first pilots to fly a combat mission in the P-51 Mustang.

Early life Emmer was born on November 18, 1917, to Vivien and Blanche Nathan Emmer, in Omaha. His family was Jewish. He grew up with a younger brother, Raymond, in St Louis, Missouri.

Military career Emmer enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1941. He joined the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces in January 1942, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Luke Field, Arizona, on September 29, 1942. He became a Pilot Officer at Luke Field, on September 29, 1942. Emmer served with the 20th Fighter Group at Paine Field, Washington, from September 1942 to January 1943. He was then assigned as a P-39 Airacobra pilot with the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the 354th Fighter Group in the U.S. from January to November 1943.

World War II

The 354th FG was deployed to England in November 1943 where they became the first American unit to operate the P-51. The unit was initially stationed at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire, before moving to RAF Boxted in Colchester on November 13, 1944. Emmer flew his first combat mission on the P-51B Mustang over Europe on December 1, 1943. He was promoted to Captain on January 15, 1944. Emmer named his P-51 Mustang 'Peaceful Penguin' because he had so many mechanical troubles with his P-51.

Emmer scored his first aerial victory on February 20, 1944, when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Oschersleben. He scored his second and third aerial victories on March 16. On April 17, the 354th moved to RAF Lashenden. Emmer finally became a flying ace when he shot down two Bf 109s over Pölitz on May 13. On May 28, Emmer shot down three enemy aircraft over Neuhaldensleben

Following the invasion of Normandy on June 6, the 354th FG moved to Cricqueville Airfield, an Advanced Landing Ground in the Normandy region of northern France. On July 26, Emmer's flight was attacked by a group of 35 Bf 109s over the forest in St. Sever. He managed to shoot down 2.5 Bf 109s, including one shared with Lt. Carl Bickel. His flight managed to destroy nine enemy aircraft in total. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Emmer scored his final aerial victory on August 7. Following the death of 353rd FS commander Don M. Beerbower on August 9, Emmer was appointed as the acting commander of the squadron.

He was credited with the destruction of 14 enemy aircraft, which includes two shared destructions, one probable, and two damaged in aerial combat.

Final mission and death

On August 9, exactly on the same day he was appointed as the squadron commander, Emmer's P-51 was shot down by German flak. He was badly burned, but managed to bail out near the Seine River in the vicinity of Rouen. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and taken to a hospital where he was seen by a fellow American airman from the St. Louis area. He was first held in Stalag XII-A in Bad Orb before being interned at Stalag IX-B in Limburg an der Lahn, before being finally transferred to Dulag Luft Wetzlar.

The effects of the severe burns Emmer received included myocarditis, greatly weakening his heart. As a result, he was due to be released to the Red Cross on February 18, 1945. While awaiting transfer on that day, as he stood next to an air raid siren, it sounded an alarm; he collapsed into the arms of fellow POW F/O Leonard A. Walker of the RAAF and died, the result of a heart attack. He was buried at an Allied section at a cemetery in Büblingshausen.

Emmer's brother Raymond Phillip (born 1925) served in the U.S. Army's 394th Infantry Regiment and was killed in action in Germany on November 18, 1944.

After the end of World War II, Emmer's father managed to repatriate Emmer's remains and those of his brother, from Europe to St. Louis, Missouri.

Aerial victory credits Chronicle of aerial victories Date # Type Location Aircraft flown Unit AssignedFebruary 22, 19441Messerschmitt Bf 109Oschersleben, GermanyP-51B353 FS, 354 FGMarch 16, 19441 Bf 109Nördlingen, GermanyP-51B353 FS, 354 FGMarch 16, 19441 Focke-Wulf Fw 190Darmstadt, GermanyP-51B353 FS, 354 FGMay 13, 19442Bf 109Pölitz, GermanyP-51B353 FS, 354 FGMay 28, 19442Bf 109Neuhaldensleben, GermanyP-51B353 FS, 354 FGMay 28, 19441Fw 190Neuhaldensleben, GermanyP-51B353 FS, 354 FGJune 12, 19441Fw 190Bonn, GermanyP-51B353 FS, 354 FGJune 14, 19441Bf 109Caen, FranceP-51B353 FS, 354 FGJune 29, 19440.5Fw 190Barbechat, FranceP-51B353 FS, 354 FGJuly 26, 19442.5Bf 109St. Sever, FranceP-51B353 FS, 354 FGAugust 7, 19441Bf 109Mayenne, FranceP-51B353 FS, 354 FG SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and decorations His awards include:   USAAF Pilot BadgeDistinguished Service CrossSilver Star Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clustersPurple HeartAir Medal with four silver oak leaf clustersAir Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)Prisoner of War MedalEmmer is eligible for the Prisoner of War Medal when it was created in 1986.American Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalFrench Croix de Guerre with Palm

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Emmer, Wallace N. Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force Date of Action: July 26, 1944

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Wallace Nathan Emmer, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 353d Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on July 26, 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. While leading eight P-51 fighter planes of the Pioneer Mustang group on a fighter sweep of the St. Lo area, just prior to the breakthrough there, Captain Emmer fearlessly led his squadron in a superb attack on 40 enemy fighters heading for the clouds below to attack our ground troops. The intercepting maneuver created confusion among the enemy and prevented them from attacking our ground forces. Captain Emmer destroyed two enemy aircraft and assisted in destruction of a third. Captain Emmer's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

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