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name
NIBLEY, Emmett Drew - Date of
birth
19 January 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah -
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-716206 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
22nd Fighter Squadron,
36th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
31 December 1944 - Place of
death
Kommern, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 29 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Merrill Nibley (father)
Belva Nibley (mother)
Merrill W. Nibley (brother)
David R. Nibley (brother)
Ned L. Nibley (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-26010 -
Data
Type: P-47D
Destination: Vicinity of Euschkirchen-Schleiden, Germany
Mission: Strafing
MACR: 11492
More information
Emmett Nibley graduated from Los Angeles High School and attended the University of California.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Los Angeles, California, on 23 September 1942.
Statement of 1st Lt Paul C. Harrold, who flew in the same mission: "Lt Nibley, on an armed reconnaisance mission, crashed during his strafing run on vehicles and gun positions at Kommern, Germany. The flak was light and intense, and apparently he went down as a result of anti-aircraft fire. The plane exploded upon crashing and started fires in the town. I did not see him bail out, and in my opinion, he undoubtedly did not survive the crash."
He was initially buried at the cemetery of Kommern on 1 January 1945.
This was his sixth mission.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial.com, Salt Lake Telegram 10-mar-1945, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: FOHF, 36thFighterGroup.com, Dean Leers, Salt Lake Telegram - 10 Mar 1945