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358th Emerson Crew
Aubrey L. Emerson, Pilot
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AUBREY L. EMERSON CREW - 358th BS
(Emerson assigned 358BS: 30 July 1943)
(Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot: 26 Nov 1943)


Crewmen on final combat mission:
2Lt Aubrey L. Emerson (P)(POW), 2Lt McDonald L. Riddick (CP)(POW),
2Lt J.B. Lewis Halliburton (N)(POW)(3), 2Lt Don J. DeLaura (B)POW)

T/Sgt Grover C. Mullins (E)(POW), T/Sgt James C. Supple (R)(POW),
S/Sgt Howard H. Zeitner (BTG)(KIA), S/Sgt John G. Viszneki (LWG)(POW),
S/Sgt James H. Pleasant (RWG)(POW), S/Sgt Bernard J. Sutton (TG)(POW)

Flew last three missions (91, 93, 98) with the above crew with the exception of 2Lt Don J. DeLaura, who was on his only mission with 2Lt Emerson on mission #98. The enlisted crewmen were original members of the William C. Fort Jr. Crew.

Last Emerson Crew combat mission:
Mission #98, 11 January 1944 to Oschersleben, Germany in B-17F #41-24562 Sky Wolf (358BS) VK-A [MACR 1925]. Was in distress at 20,000 feet before reaching the target. B-17 peeled off, although all four engines appeared to be functioning. Crashed at Wolsdorf, Germany (1 KIA and 9 POW). Sky Wolf was an original 358th BS B-17F and was on her 60th combat mission.

Crew Notes:
2Lt Aubrey L. Emerson - Flew as CoPilot on five credited missions with the Lt Frank H. Thompson Crew (26 Sept 43 to 19 Aug 43) replacing the regular CoPilot who had been upgraded to Pilot and eight credited missions as CoPilot on the Donald F. DeCamp Crew (02 Oct 43 to 16 Nov 43) replacing the crew's CoPilot who had been upgraded to Pilot. 2Lt Emerson was upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on 26 Nov 43). Flew ten missions as a Pilot (Mission 83 - 26 Nov 43 to mission 98 - 11 Jan 44). Did not have a regularly assigned crew. Flew with various crews and crewmen on his ten missions as a 1st Pilot.

[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]