Memorial

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1st Lt Elmer Buss graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1941 and attended Pasadena Junior College.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Los Angeles, California, on 27 December 1941.

The mission took place on 17 December 1944.

Statement of 1st Lt Elton O. Hazel, who flew in the same mission: "Because I could not catch up with the Butcher alert flight that scrambled from base at approximately 1115, 17 December 1944, I flew as wingman to Lt Elmer Buss, Gayson (410th) Squadron. Lt Buss also experienced difficulty joining his flight, and we joined to afford each other protection until we were able to join our respective flights. We flew an approximate course of 85 degrees and when we reached the Aachen area, we noticed our flights flying in an approximate north-easterly direction. However, Lt Buss directed that we remain on course.
Upon reaching Düren, we encountered and engaged four FW 190s, slightly ahead and above us. We climbed, then proceeded to attack the enemy aircraft. I fired at one and destroyed him, seeing him bail out of his stricken craft. However, the German leader had peeled off, circled around and was on my tail. His first burst silenced my radio, and I was thus unable to contact Lt Buss. I immediately broke away and dove for the deck, with the FW 190 in close pursuit. I headed for base, and the enemy aircraft chased me for 30 miles before abandoning pursuit.
The last time I saw Lt Buss, he was chasing the remaining two enemy aircraft in a Luftberry and his concentration of fire probably resulted in the destruction of one of the 190s. I continued and landed safely at base."

1st Lt Elmer Buss was taken a prisoner after his plane crashed near Düren, Germany. He died at the hospital of Knechtsteden, Germany at 4:30 P.M. on 16 January 1945.