Raymond Shuey Wetmore

Military
media-19856.png UPL 19856 Official USAAF photo. Original caption : “Rated as the leading U.S. fighter ace still active in European battle skies, Capt. Ray S. Wetmore, 22-year-old North American P-51 Mustang flight commander, of Kerman, Calif. now has a total bag of 21½ Nazi planes destroyed as well as 3-1/3 on the ground. Above he records his score of four enemy fighters destroyed and a share in the blasting of a fifth during his latest dog-fight near Dimmer Lake, Germany. The swastika is of the same design as the 24 his ground crew have painted on his Mustang, “Daddy’s Girl”, named after his eight-month-old daughter. His wife, Mrs. Carmelina Wetmore and daughter live in Roslyn, N.Y.”

Added photo

Object Number - UPL 19856 - Official USAAF photo. Original caption : “Rated as the leading U.S. fighter ace still active in European battle skies, Capt. Ray S. Wetmore,...

Ray Wetmore enlisted aged 18 in 1941, he was commissioned in March 1943 and joined the 359th Fighter Group. He became top Ace of the 359th Fighter Group, scoring 21 victories, his final kill was an ME 163 jet. During the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944- January 1945, Wetmore was hit by friendly fire and his aircraft was set alight. When his wingman Lieutenant John F McAlevey alerted him to the fire, Wetmore extinguished the blaze with a nose dive and returned home safely. He completed 142 missions and totaled 563 combat hours.



Following the War, Wetmore was promoted to Major and commanded the 59th Fighter Intercept Squadron at Otis Air Force Base. He died in a freak flying accident in an F-86 on 14 February 1951. Wetmore was on a routine trip when his aircraft suddenly shot skyward, he was unable to eject as the plane began to crash and was killed instantly.



April 1943-Nov. 1945, 142 missions, 563 hours, P-47D 42-75068, P-51B 42-106894, P-51D 44-14733 'Daddy's Girl'

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

P-51 Mustangs (VF-4) of the 4th Fighter Group, (CV-Q) of the 359th Fighter Group, (LC-D) of the 20th Fighter Group, (LH-V) of the 353rd Fighter group and (C5-Q) of the 357th Fighter Group, with a P-38 Lightning at Debden. Handwritten on slide:" Line of P51s E. Richie"
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Daddy's Girl
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 370th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Daddy's Girl
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Baltimore Babe
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron
P-51 Mustangs (CS-E, serial number 44-13893) nicknamed "Caroline", (CS-L, serial number 44-14733) nicknamed "Ruggie's Ruthie" , (CS-F, serial number 44-13795) nicknamed "Marg" and (CS-K, serial number 44-13966) of the 359th Fighter Group lined up at East Wretham. Associated caption: 'Another line up of P-51s.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Daddy's Girl / Ruggie's Ruthie
P-51 Mustangs, including (CS-H, serial number 44-14979) and (CS-C, serial number 44-72208) nicknamed "Delectable" of the 359th Fighter Group lined up at East Wretham. Associated caption: 'Line up of P-51s starting with CH-H, 414979.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Little Dessy
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Kerman, California 30 September 1923

Died

End Tour of Duty (ETD)

Sandwich, MA, USA 14 February 1951

Revisions

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Remove duplicate image

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Key image

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Added photo

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Merged data from duplicate record to include information from :
- Fighter Aces of the U. S. A., Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force and Aces and Wingmen II

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Unit History

Raymond Shuey Wetmore: Gallery (9 items)