Ray Wetmore
Ray Shuey Wetmore | |
---|---|
59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron | |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Air Medal (13) |
Ray Shuey Wetmore (September 30, 1923 – February 14, 1951) was a quadruple ace of
Early life
Born in
Military career
World War II
Upon commissioning in March 1943 he joined the new 359th Fighter Group which was sent to England in October that year. Flying with the 370th Fighter Squadron, in February and March 1944 Wetmore scored his first 4.25 victories flying the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
After retraining to fly a
The two tours of duty that Wetmore served made him a witness to the downfall of the Luftwaffe. On November 27, 1944, Wetmore and Lieutenant Р. York engaged in a skirmish with almost a hundred Bf.109 fighters to the north of Munster. As Wetmore himself said later: "To defend ourselves, we had to attack." Three Messerschmitts were shot down in the battle. The Americans escaped the battle without losses.
Wetmore's next success was on January 14, 1945, when he shot down four
Post war
After the war, Wetmore served with the
Wetmore was next assigned to
Death
As a major, Wetmore commanded the
On February 14, 1951, Wetmore took off from
Aerial victory credits
Date | # | Type | Location | Aircraft flown | Unit Assigned |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 10, 1944 | 1 | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Den Ham, Netherlands | P-47D |
370 FS, 359 FG |
March 4, 1944 | 0.25 | Bf 109 | Bonn, Germany | P-47D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
March 16, 1944 | 2 | Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Sommesous, France | P-47D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
April 22, 1944 | 1 | Fw 190 | Hamm, Germany | P-47D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
May 19, 1944 | 2 | Bf 109 | Stendal, Germany | P-51B |
370 FS, 359 FG |
May 29, 1944 | 2 | Fw 190 | Stettin , Germany |
P-51B | 370 FS, 359 FG |
November 2, 1944 | 2 | Bf 109 | Erfurt, Germany | P-51D |
370 FS, 359 FG |
November 27, 1944 | 3 | Bf 109 | Hanover, Germany | P-51D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
December 31, 1944 | 1.5 | Bf 109 | Hanover, Germany | P-51D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
January 1, 1945 | 1 | Bf 109 | Lüneburg, Germany | P-51D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
January 14, 1945 | 4.5 | Fw 190 | Dümmer Lake, Germany | P-51D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
March 15, 1945 | 1 | Messerschmitt Me 163 |
Wittenberg, Germany | P-51D | 370 FS, 359 FG |
- SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II
Awards and decorations
His military decorations include:
USAF Senior Pilot Badge | |
Distinguished Service Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster | |
Silver Star with bronze oak leaf cluster | |
Distinguished Flying Cross with silver oak leaf cluster | |
Air Medal with two silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation | |
Army Good Conduct Medal
| |
American Defense Service Medal | |
American Campaign Medal | |
campaign stars
| |
World War II Victory Medal | |
National Defense Service Medal | |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with bronze oak leaf cluster
| |
Croix de Guerre with silver star (France) | |
Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium )
|
Distinguished Service Cross citation (1st award)
- Wetmore, Ray
- Captain (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
- 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
- Date of Action: November 2, 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) Ray Shuey Wetmore, 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 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 2 November 1944, during a bomber escort mission over Germany. Upon leaving the target, Captain Wetmore spotted thirty Me-109's which he immediately led his section of six airplanes to engage. He overtook the enemy and by the vigor and daring of his attack broke up the Me-109 formation. Scoring hits on one enemy airplane, he pursued it alone through the undercast to complete its destruction. Alone under the overcast, he then engaged from fifteen to twenty more Me-109's, refusing to break off the action in the face of repeated passes by the enemy pilots although only two of his guns were firing. Despite the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy, his cool courage and superb skill as a combat pilot resulted in the destruction of another enemy fighter, and the remaining Me-109's then dispersed. Captain Wetmore's resolute determination to attack and destroy the enemy in the face of every hazard and his eagerness to force combat against heavy odds have been an inspiration to his fellow flyers and reflect highest credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.[3]
Distinguished Service Cross citation (2nd award)
- Wetmore, Ray
- Captain (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
- 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
- Date of Action: November 27, 1944
- Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Ray Shuey Wetmore, 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 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 27 November 1944, during an air mission over Germany. On this date, Captain Wetmore was leader of a flight of four P-51 fighter aircraft on a fighter sweep mission over north central Germany. During the mission he sighted three formations of enemy aircraft, totaling more than 200 FW 190's and Me-109's. With total disregard for his own personal safety, Major Wetmore tracked the hostile fighters, radioing their positions, altitude and course to his nearby fighter group. Supporting fighters failed to arrive, and Major Wetmore, ignoring the fact of the overwhelming odds of 200 to 2, chose to attack three of the enemy aircraft in the air. The action of Major Wetmore on this occasion was a clear demonstration of the willful selection of the more hazardous of two acceptable and honorable courses of action, since his withdrawal from the combat under such overwhelmingly unfavorable circumstances would certainly have been acceptable. Captain Wetmore's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.[3]
Notes
- Dr. Frank Olynyk (1995). Stars & Bars: A Tribute to the American Fighter Ace 1920–1973. Grub Street, London.
- Lt. John F. McAlevey (March, 1971. Encounter at Remagen: U.S. Air Ace's Brush with Death, Veterans of Foreign Wars Magazine, pp. 26–27,32)
References
- ^ a b "Ray S. Wetmore". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c Brennan, George (November 1, 2009). "Mystery of ace pilot's crash unraveled". South Sandwich, Massachusetts: Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Ray Wetmore". Military Times. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
External links
- Ray Wetmore at Find a Grave
- http://www.johnfmcalevey.com/ww2/remagen.htm
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l075YAuuqek
- http://www.midwestaero.com/articles/daddysgirl.pdf
- http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=23141
- https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/359th-fighter-group-1943-1945/me-163-encounter-report-15-march-1945/154403034622430