Operation: Bomber escort (Mission #761) to Kessel, Germany

Date: 25th December 1944 (Monday)

Unit No: 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force

Type: P-51D

Serial: 44-15054

Code: VF:D

Base: Debden (Station #356), Essex, England

Location: Crashed near the Rosa Capel, Duustergats-Lahrstratt (Kollenberg), Sittard, Holland

Pilot: Capt. Donald Roswell “Don” Emerson DFC, O-813134 AAF Age 21. KiA

Capt. Emerson was credited with 7 victories (4½ aerial and 2½ destroyed on the ground)

Above: Capt. Emerson took over P-51D 44-15054 from 2nd Lt. Edward A. Quist, O-821872, who had become a PoW at Stalag Luft 3 on the 8th November 1944. He was flying P-51D 44-13961 VF:L and failed to return from an escort mission to Merseburg, Germany. (Credit: of the American Air Museum in Britain)

Above: Photograph taken on 3rd September 1944. Capt. Emerson in his P-51D ‘Donald Duck’ uses 30 degrees of flap while stay with 390th Bombardment Group Flying Fortresses (Credit of the American Air Museum in Britain).

Capt. Emerson's face shows the strain after completing a gruelling mission (Credit Michel Beckers).

Above: At Debden, 1st Lt. Donald R. Emerson of the 4th Fighter Group holds the rabbit's foot talisman, which he wears on a chain around his neck. Passed for publication 11th April 1944. Printed caption attached to print: “D.R. Emerson (N. Dakota) flys with a rabbit's foot talisman, a gift from a New York girl friend.” (Credit of the American Air Museum in Britain-Roger Freeman Collection). Right: Elinor Lindermann who was Donald’s girlfriend (Credit Michel Beckers)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 25th December 1994 Capt. Emerson took off from Debden, as section leader, on an a bomber escort mission to Kessel, Germany. After engaging German fighters attacking the bomber stream he became separated from his section. His last radio contact said that he was starting off for home on the ‘deck’ after shooting down two Fw190s in a lone encounter with six Fw190s.

Crossing the front lines his aircraft was hit and he was killed by Allied flak. The aircraft came down near the Rosa Capel, Duustergats-Lahrstratt (Kollenberg), Sittard, Holland. Capt. Emerson was found in the wreckage of his aircraft by British forces on the Allied side of the lines.

Burial Details:

Capt. Emerson and grave marker (Credit Michel Beckers and Fred - FindAGrave)

Capt. Donald Roswell Emerson. DFC (Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (6 Oak Leaf Clusters), Purple Heart. Initially buried on the 27th December 1944, in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Plot O, Row 4, Grave 92 and later relocated to Plot B, Row 15, Grave 21. Born on the 17th May 1923 in Joliette, Pembina, North Dakota. Son of Charles Francis and Mabel A. (née Roswell) Emerson of Joliette, Pembina, North Dakota, USA.

Memorial at the crash site of Capt. Emerson’s aircraft

Originally researched by Michel Beckers and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot. Thanks to Manuela van Steendelaar for the correction to the crash site (Dec 2020). Updated narrative and new images by Aircrew Remembered (Dec 2020).

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt