Hometown: Pembina, ND
Branch: U.S. Army (Air Corps)
Unit: 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group
Military Honors: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Date of Sacrifice: December 25, 1944 - KIA near Sittard, Limberg Province, the Netherlands 
Age: 21 
Conflict: World War II, 1939-1945

Born on May 17, 1923, Don Emerson grew up on a farm near Pembina, North Dakota during the Great Depression. Pembina is a small town tucked into a corner formed by the borders of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada—straight south of Winnipeg.

After graduating from high school in 1941, Emerson didn’t feel that he was destined to be a farmer. Although jobs were scarce, he made his way to Chicago—where a friend took him in as a boarder and helped him get a position at the Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalog House.

Later that year, on December 7, the surprise Japanese attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii changed Emerson’s future. Certain that either he or his older brother would be drafted into military service, Don enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in June of 1942, to ensure that his brother would be available to help with the farm. Don had just celebrated his 19th birthday a month earlier.

In July, Emerson was assigned to Lowry Field, Colorado to train as an armorer. While there, the Army lowered its age and education requirements for its Aviation Cadet Program. Emerson immediately filled out the application and was accepted to train at the Army facility in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated on October 1 of 1943 with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

After more training in Florida, Emerson was ready for combat as a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot. He was sent to New York in January of 1944, where he boarded the Île de France—a French ocean liner converted for use as a troop transport ship.

He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group, stationed at Debden, England. By August of 1944, Emerson was appointed as the Air Operations Officer for the 336th.

According to the Preddy Memorial Foundation:

During his eight months of active duty with the 4th Fighter Group, Donald completed at least 89 combat missions, including D-Day operations and the Russia Shuttle missions. He most often flew into battle in his P-51 Mustang VF-B #413317, emblazoned with the whimsical but fearless image of Donald Duck—dukes up and fighting mad.

Emerson became an “ace” (credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat) and was promoted to Captain following a Russian Shuttle mission. After his first tour of duty ended, Emerson volunteered for a second.

On Christmas Eve, 1944, Emerson and his group flew an uneventful escort mission to Giessen, Germany—just north of Frankfurt. On their return, their home base in Debden was closed due to thick fog. They had to instead land in the village of Rayden in Suffolk, England. The pilots were extremely disappointed, as their home base was hosting an annual Christmas celebration for 250 British children displaced by the German Blitz.

Donald Emerson flew his final mission on Christmas Day, 1944. As World War II (1939-1945) was nearing its end, Adolf Hitler launched one last major campaign in hopes of splitting Allied forces and denying them use of the port at Antwerp, Belgium. German forces were launched through the thick forests of the Ardennes region between Belgium and Luxembourg.

In what came to be known as the “Battle of the Bulge,” Emerson was flying his P-51 Mustang back to his base after another escort mission behind enemy lines—this time to Kessel, Germany. Just before crossing back over British-controlled territory, Emerson encountered six enemy planes and became separated from his group.

After shooting down two of them, Emerson ran out of ammunition and dropped low into a heavy cloud bank to conceal himself. As he flew close to the ground, his P-51 was hit by flak from anti-aircraft guns below. He crashed near Sittard, in Limburg Province, the Netherlands, and it is believed that he died before his plane crashed.

Capt. Donald “Don” Emerson was buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten. A Dutch family adopted Emerson’s grave, honoring the man who gave everything for the sake of freeing Europe, for his country, for his older brother, and for his family’s farm.

Sources
Photo Credit: War Office official photographer, Saidman (Mr)
Preddy Memorial Foundation: Captain Donald R. Emerson
American Air Museum in Britain: Donald R. Emerson
State of North Dakota Veteran Affairs: Donald R. Emerson
Traces of War: Captain Donald R. Emerson Memorial
Honor States: Donald R Emerson
U.S. Army: The Battle of the Bulge
Book: Donald’s Story by Sandra Merrill
Burial Site: Find a Grave