Merle Raymond Capp
MilitaryLt Merle R. Capp was destined to join the list of high-scoring pilots of the 78th FG with a tally of 2 air and 2.5 ground 'kills'. The youngest of three sons of a Colonel in the regular Army he was currently attending the University of Carolina when he enlisted. The first record we have of him is a cutting from the Washington D.C 'Times Herald' dated May 14 1944 (his father was then serving in the Adjutant General's office in Washington) reporting an incident over Germany. It was also picked up by the 'Evening Star'.
Lt. Capp apparently arrived in England sometime in March '44 and was posted to the 82nd Squadron at RAF Duxford in May. By D-Day - according to the 'Washington Post'- Capp had flown 22 missions mostly escorting bombers over Germany and, as reported on 19th June, was credited thus far with the shooting down of an Me109 and an FW190. In December 1944, by now promoted 1st Lt. he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross ' for extraordinary achievement as a fighter pilot in aerial combat over Germany and German occupied Continental Europe'.
There is no further mention of Lt Capp until a communication of 7th March 1945 posting him to Foster Field Texas for a six week Instruction in Fixed Gunnery course, seemingly a common destination for fighter pilots who've completed their tour and for which he would receive '2 dollars per day'. Following which from 1st May Capp would be based at SCAAF Westhampton Beach N.Y, although a further order dated 25th May '45 orders him to 30 days at First Fighter Command Gunnery School commencing 28th May.
He was still at Westhampton Beach in November of that year when he was selected to take part in a 'Wings for Victory' exhibition because - according to his commanding officer - of his 'superior ability as a fighter pilot and the fact that his appearance, bearing, zeal and love for flying made him the best representative for us in the demonstration'.
From the account in the local newspaper dated 9-Nov-45:
'1st Lt Merle R, Capp 23, and five other Army Air Force pilots were killed instantly yesterday when two planes of the Treasury Department's 'Wings of Victory' armada collided in mid-air over Chemung airport at Elmira N.Y.....the crash occurred shortly after the planes, a B-25 Mitchell bomber with a crew of five and Lieutenant Capp's P-47 Thunderbolt fighter had taken off from the airport side-by-side to fly to Stewart Field at West Point. As they reached the north end of the field, at an altitude of about 100 feet, one of the planes nosed into the other and they crashed on the runway'.
78th FG 84th FS. Distinguished Flying Cross awarded 23-Sep-44 for extraordinary achievement as follows:
“MERLE R. CAPP, O-812750, 1st Lieutenant, 78th Fighter Group, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For extraordinary achievement as fighter pilot in aerial combat over Germany and German occupied Continental Europe. The courage and skill with which Lieutenant Capp flew his aircraft and engaged attacking enemy fighters have on many occasions assisted heavy bomber formations to reach their targets and return to their bases with a minimum of loss. The devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Capp on these escort flights and his disregard for personal safety in exposing himself to the hazards of low-level flying on strafing missions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces.
By command of Major General Partridge
Captain F E Fitzpatrick, Air Corps Acting Ass. Adjutant General
Awards: DFC (1OLC), AM (5OLC), ACM, EAME and WW II Victory Medal
His draft registration card shows he registered June 30, 1942 and his AM file denotes prior service with the Texas National Guard.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 6 June 1944
- Date: 6 June 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
24 October 1922 | Son of George Raymond and Cleon [Rowley] Capp. | |
Based |
29 April 1944 - 14 July 1944 | Assigned to 82FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Other E/A Destroyed |
12 May 1944 | E/A destroyed Germany. 12-May-44. | |
Other E/A Destroyed |
19 May 1944 | E/A destroyed Germany. 19-May-44. | |
Other Promotion |
4 July 1944 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. | |
Other Transferred |
14 July 1944 - 19 September 1944 | Transferred to 84FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
19 September 1944 | Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). | |
Other Crashed |
21 September 1945 | Take Off Accident Suffolk County AAF NY 1Lt Merle R Capp, 21-Sep-45. TP-47D 44-90462 - 132AAFBU 1AF | |
Died |
8 November 1945 | Fatal Mid Air Collision 5 Miles NW Elmira, NY Cat 4 damage 1Lt Merle R Capp, 8-Nov-45. P-47N 44-88940 - 132BU 1AF. | |
Buried |
11 November 1945 | Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio Bexar County Texas, USA |
Revisions
Added to awards and bio data. No Purple Heart was issued as his death was non battle or killed in flying accident. More than likely he earned more than one bronze service star on the EAME Campaign Medal. His personnel records would list pertinent campaigns.
Information collated from IWM file on Lieutenant Capp by historian and volunteer Helen Millgate.
Combined two entries for Merle R Capp. This entry now includes information from the following source:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / EAGLES OF DUXFORD, The 78th Fighter Group in WW2 by Fry, p132