Emmanuel Bring A Missing WW2 Pilot Home To His Family

Hello my name is Emmanuel Barron, I am an Archaeologist, Wildlife Biologist and a former Airborne Infantry Officer from the United States Army.

I currently work as a full time Archaeologist in Cresco Iowa and run my own company.

I was recently selected by a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization called Terra Search MIA for a mission in Stuttgart, Germany taking place on 17 June - 17 July, 2024. Terra Search's mission is to assist the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in recovering our missing soldiers from global conflicts and bring them home. Fulfilling our promise as Americans to never forget their sacrifice. The mission in Stuttgart is to bring back an American fighter pilot who was shot down and who's remains have never been recovered.

The air war over Europe in WW2 was the most costly for American forces, our boys faced a tough, very experienced and extremely well equipped enemy in the German Luftwaffe. The 8th Airforce in England alone lost more men than the entire Marine Corps did in WW2. The bomber crews that flew daytime missions over enemy territory suffered incredible losses because they had to fly alone, unescorted to drop their bombs on targets. Most never made it back because the United States did not have a fighter plane with a range great enough to fly with the bombers and keep german fighters away. That changed in late 1943 when the North American P-51 mustang entered the war. With a sleek design, 6- 50 caliber machine guns, and most importantly a range of 1000 miles, they could fly with the bombers all the way to their targets, and bring more bomber crews safely home. P-51s turned the tide of the war in the air, they accounted for 4,950 air to air kills, making the german Luftwaffe units experience 99% casualties. The P-51 also produced great American heroes, like Bud Anderson, Chuck Yeager, John Meyer and Robin Olds, and it has become the most iconic American warbird. Unfortunately, despite being an incredible machine, driven by the best young men America could produce, 2,520 P-51s were shot down during the war. Many of those pilots are still missing.

I have always been passionate about the military. Believe it or not, I typed the above paragraph by memory. I had a P-51 hanging from the ceiling of my room, one belonging to the Red Tails, the famous African American Unit. It hung next to two other of my favorite aircraft from the war, a P-38 Lightning and a P-47 Thunderbolt. I have read many biographies of those fearless pilots admiring their selfless service and their incredible exploits. WW2 veterans are incredible, we all owe them so much. The world owes them so much. I feel like I was tailored made for this type of mission. I have such a great sense of calling for this work. I cant think of anything better to do with my life then to find these young men in the battlefields of the past and bring them home to be honored by their country and cherished by their families.

Please, help me bring them home.