Robert G. Emmens
Robert Gabel Emmens | |
---|---|
Office of Special Investigations District 20 | |
Battles/wars | World War II • Doolittle Raid |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Other work | Stockbroker Real estate agent |
Robert Gabel Emmens (July 22, 1914 – April 2, 1992) was a Doolittle Raider and a career United States Air Force officer.
Biography
Emmens was born on July 22, 1914, in Medford, Oregon, to Jacelyn and Fannie Emmens. He graduated from Medford High School in Medford, Oregon in 1931 and then attended University of Oregon from 1931 to 1934.
Military career
Emmens entered the
In February 1942, Emmens volunteered for a "secret mission", even though he did not know what duties were involved or any other details. This mission ended up being the critical Doolittle Raid.
Doolittle Raid
As a
All of those 16 crews except Lieutenant Emmens' either crashed on the China coast or bailed out. His B-25 was consuming fuel at a much higher rate than planned on the mission, possibly due to incorrect engine carburetor settings. As a result, after attacking the target successfully in Japan, the plane turned north and touched down in a large field 40 miles (64 km) north of Vladivostok in the Soviet Union. Doolittle had specifically told the Raiders not to fly to Russia.
Internment and escape
The Soviet Union, which was not then at war with Japan, held the crewmen captive for 13 months. Colonel Emmens later wrote a book about his experience as a captive, "Guests of the Kremlin." After landing in Vladivostok, Emmens wrote that the Soviets held its five crewmen in several locations in the Soviet Union. Limited to the same diet as the besieged Soviet people, mostly black bread and cabbage, the five crew members suffered malnutrition, dysentery and other medical problems.
Rather than wait until the end of the war under deplorable conditions, the crew resolved to escape. While held in
The B-25 aircraft was kept by the Soviets, and was scrapped in the 1950s.
Post war
After his return to the United States, Emmens attended and graduated from the
Emmens then served at Headquarters United States Air Force at
Emmens began training for duty as an Air Attache to
Later life
Emmens was married to Justine Emmens, née Miller (1915–2006). They had three children.
After his retirement, Robert Emmens returned to Medford, Oregon, his home town, and worked as a stockbroker and in real estate. Emmens died on April 2, 1992, due to cancer. He is interred at the Medford IOOF Cemetery and is a stop along the popular free public tour of the historic site which is managed by the City of Medford Parks and Recreation Department.
Awards and decorations
Colonel Emmens' decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade, and the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure.
Command Pilot
| |||||||||||
Distinguished Flying Cross | |||||||||||
Army Commendation Medal | Prisoner of War Medal | American Defense Service Medal | |||||||||
American Campaign Medal | campaign star
|
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | |||||||||
World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | |||||||||
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters |
Republic of China )
|
War Memorial Medal (Republic of China) |
References
- New York Times obituary, April 5, 1992
- Guests of the Kremlin (1949) ISBN 0-923891-81-1