The Marlborough
Historical Society

    Elmer was born the 16th of August 1924 in Marlborough, Massachusetts the oldest of two children born to Perley and Elizabeth Bemis. He made his home with his parents at 22 Union Street in Marlborough and was a 1942 graduate of Marlborough High School. While working as a welder for the Rheem Manufacturing Company in Providence Rhode Island, he enlisted into the Army Air Corps the 29th of March 1943.  Following his initial basic training he received training as a radio operator at Scott Field, Illinois. He was ultimately assigned to the 853rd Bombardment Squadron, 491st Bombardment Group the “Ringmasters”.

    He served as a Technical Sergeant and radio operator aboard a B-24 Liberator aircraft flying from RAF North Pickenham, Norfolk, England. He earned an Air Medal the 26th of August 1944 and Oak Leaft Clusters the 29th of September, and the 27th of October 1944. On its 23rd bombing mission to oil refineries near Misburg, Germany the 26th November 1944, the 491st was attacked by a large formation of German fighter aircraft resulting in the loss of over half of the B-24 Liberators sent on the mission.

    Elmer was aboard the B-24 “Firebird” which was shot down with a loss of all but two of its crewmembers. He was originally buried at a cemetery in Bredenbeck, Germany until his remains were repatriated to the United States in 1950. He is buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. section 34 grave 3652. Bemis Road in Marlborough is named in his honor.

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