Alberto Charles Emerson (1909 - 1943)

Born 17 Jun 1909 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Helen Jayne Disher — married 1935 (to 1943) in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Died 4 Feb 1943 at age 33 in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

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Silver Emerson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Lieutenant Silver Emerson served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): USS Hornet (CV-12)
Service ended: 1943

Biography

Alberto Edward Emerson was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts on 17 Jun 1909 to parents Harold K. and Esther H. Ransden Emerson. He was a graduate of University of Maine and enter flight training in 1931 at Naval Air Station Squantum in Massachusetts. In 1935 he married Helen Jayne Disher of McLean County, Illinois.

Lt. Alberto Edward "Silver" Emerson was a naval aviator during World War II and served as a fighter pilot and the executive officer of Fighter Squadron (VF)-72, which was part of the USS Hornet’s air group. He also served on the aircraft carriers USS Yorktown as the deck officer during its sinking, and aboard the USS Enterprise. Emerson was credited with shooting down at least three Japanese aircraft. On 4 Feb 1943 he was listed as missing in action, which was the day after his squadron arrived on Guadalcanal while leading a strike against Japanese destroyers coming down “the Slot.”

Lt. Emersion was posthumously awarded the second Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). His first DFC was awarded to him by Adm. William Halsey in December 1942 for heroism and gallant conduct.

Alberto C. Emerson Distinguished Flying Cross AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Division: U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8) GENERAL ORDERS: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 319 (October 1943) HOME OF RECORD: Florissant, Missouri

CITATION: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Alberto C. Emerson (NSN: 0-71727), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 13 October 1942. As a pilot of the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8) Air Group covering a task force engaged in a vital mission, Lieutenant Emerson pressed home his attack on a Japanese bomber and with the assistance of two other pilots shot it down in flames. The destruction of this plane at a time when the enemy was attempting to locate and attack our task force contributed greatly to the security of this force and in keeping inviolate its secret mission.

Sources, Research and Analysis

• Unique TWO Find A Grave Index Memorials: [1] AND [2]
• Massachusetts, U.S., Birth Records, 1840-1915 from Ancestry.com [3]. Clearly shows the name of his parents and his unique name.
• Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Index, 1901-1955 and 1966-1970. Plymouth MA from Ancestry.com [4]. While the name of his wife Helen Jayne Disher is missing from the index, it is assumed that this is their marriage event.
• U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941, California p27 via Ancestry.com [5] Helen Jayne Emerson is mentioned as the spouse of Alberto Charles Emerson, with a residence in California, USA. Title: Combat Naval Casualties, World War II, (AL-MO).
• The Hall of Valor Project website [6] shows one of the citations for his posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross. The wording of the news article below is confusing but appears to mean two awards.
• Newspapers.com 2 Jul 1943, The Boston Globe, Page 7. Plymouth Navy Flyer, Decorated for Valor, Reported Missing. PLYMOUTH, July 1. Lieut. Alberto C. Emerson, 33-year-old naval flyer who was decorated by Admiral Halsey with the Distinguished Flying Cross last December, was reported missing in action from the South Pacific, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. Esther Emerson, White Horse Road, Manomet. The medal was awarded the Naval Air Force squadron leader for gallantry in aerial combat against the enemy Oct. 26, 1942, and for shooting down a twin-engine, land-based bomber. He also received a second medal for heroism and gallant conduct in aerial combat and for shooting down two Jap Zeros. When last seen in February, Lieut. Emerson led air forces against 50 Jap Zeros, but did not return from the assault. A graduate of Plymouth High School in 1927, and of the University of Maine, he was a deck officer aboard the USS Yorktown when it was reported torpedoed last June. Lieut. Emerson entered naval aviation at Squantum in 1931. [7]