WW1 Marine Pilot / 2 Victories / Navy Cross
Out of all the items in the museum, this is my favorite group. It is more rare the the Lafayette Flying Corps Group while not being nearly as well known. .......This is the grouping of Lt. Everett Brewer, Pilot, First Marine Aviation Force, A.E.F. , France 1918. There were only 134 Marine officers that had flying status in France. There were only 830 (+,-) enlisted Marines attached to the FMAF in 1918..............Lt. Everett Brewer and Gunnery Sgt. Harry B. Wershiner , while attached to the British 218 squadron, engaged a superior enemy force. Gunnery Sgt. was thrown from his seat two times during the fierce combat. Lt. Brewer had no idea to his gunner's plight as he was busy in his own right. Wershiner clung to the vertical stabilizer until the plane maintained a period of level flight and then clawed his way back to his position. In the end, Brewer was credited with two victories......... Both Brewer and Wershiner were critically wounded duriung the fight. Wershiner was shot through the lungs and Brewer was shot in his hip and leg. Despite these sever wounds, he returned his DH-9 to the Aerodrome. Both were awarded the Navy Cross for their actions as well as the Purple Heart. ...........Brewer is the 1st Marine Pilot to bring down an enemy plane in aerial combat......This group is incredibly full of Marine Aviation history!!
Hope you enjoy this one!
DJ
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by Belleauwood
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