jankees
August 12th, 2012, 08:50
P-51D-10-NA 44-14377 was flown by Captain Ray S. Wetmore, of the 370th FS/ 359th FG. Born in Kerman, California, Ray Shuey Wetmore enlisted in the Army in November 1941 at age 18 and entered pilot training eight months later. 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. Upon conversion to P-51 Mustangs the group ranged farther afield and Wetmore became a 20-year-old ace with a double victory on May 19, downing two Me-109s. At month's end his tally was 8.25. At year's end he was a captain with nearly 15 kills, flying several Mustangs named Daddy's Girl.
Upon return from leave in the U.S., then-Captain Wetmore scored steadily from November 1944 to January 1945. In that period he downed 12 more enemy fighters including 4.5 FW-190s on January 14. His final victory was a rocket-powered Me-163 on March 15. His final score was 21.25 destroyed and one damaged in aerial combat, highest score in the 359th Fighter Group and eighth best of all Americans in the European Theater. On VE-Day he was a 21-year-old major.
He flew 44-14377 between 2 november 1944 and 10 march 1945, when it was damaged by Flak near Remagen. He scored nine victories with this aircraft, making it his most successful mount. I still need to sort a few details (like the size of the squadron code), but I'm nearly there.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss261.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss264.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss277.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss283.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss296.jpg
Upon return from leave in the U.S., then-Captain Wetmore scored steadily from November 1944 to January 1945. In that period he downed 12 more enemy fighters including 4.5 FW-190s on January 14. His final victory was a rocket-powered Me-163 on March 15. His final score was 21.25 destroyed and one damaged in aerial combat, highest score in the 359th Fighter Group and eighth best of all Americans in the European Theater. On VE-Day he was a 21-year-old major.
He flew 44-14377 between 2 november 1944 and 10 march 1945, when it was damaged by Flak near Remagen. He scored nine victories with this aircraft, making it his most successful mount. I still need to sort a few details (like the size of the squadron code), but I'm nearly there.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss261.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss264.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss277.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss283.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss296.jpg