8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
...
The American Air Museum is Closed
Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
Merle G Aunspaugh
Military
-
2nd Lt Merle G Aunspaugh 368FS, 359FG, 8AF.
Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Killed in flying accident carrying out mock strafing attack during gunnery practice in P-51C 42-103793, flew into tree, ripping off a wing and crashed. Killed in Flying Accident (KIFA). Polebrook. 2-Mar-45.
Awards: PH.
Service
Units served with
-
-
359th Fighter Group
Group
The 359th Fighter Group flew 346 missions from East Wretham between December 1943 and April 1945. In the main these missions were escorting bombers flying over occupied Europe. The Group, soon after converting from Thunderbolts to Mustangs, were... -
368th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 11 September 1944.
Aircraft
-
42-103793 'Dimples II' 'San'tone Sweetheart'
P-51 Mustang
Assigned to 369FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Lt Harry F Cuzner. Re-assigned to Lt James R Parsons. Transferred to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed fatally carrying out mock strafing attack during gunnery practice, flew into tree, ripping...
Associated Place
-
East Wretham
Military site : airfield
East Wretham was not improved to Class A standard. It retained its shorter runways, although eventually pierced-steel planking was laid to make take offs and landings easier for the Thunderbolt, and then Mustang, pilots. Steel matting was also laid to...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Gothenburg, Nebraska | 20 April 1924 |
|
Son of George H and Lily C [Cross] Aunspaugh. |
||
| Lived in | Dawson County, NE, USA | 1941 |
| Enlisted | Omaha, NE, USA | 31 October 1942 |
|
Omaha, Nebraska |
||
| Assigned | Wretham, Thetford IP24, UK | January 1945 – 2 March 1945 |
|
Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. |
||
| Died | Polebrook, Peterborough PE8, UK | 2 March 1945 |
|
Killed in flying accident carrying out mock strafing attack during gunnery practice in P-51C 42-103793, flew into tree, ripping of a wing and crashed. Killed in Flying Accident (KIFA). Polebrook. 2-Mar-45. |
||
| Buried | Cambridge American Cemetery | 3 March 1945 |
|
Interred |
||
| Buried | Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, NE | 1948 |
|
Re-Interred |
||
Revisions
