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Rufus A. (Red) Cox
RUFUS A. (RED) COX, born March 8,1922 in Cisco, Texas, entered the Army on
graduation from high school in June 1940.
He served at Ft. Bragg, NC where he became
a Sgt. Entered the Air Corps Cadet program in
Dec. 42 and graduated at Napier Field, Ala.
with Class 43-1. First assignment was to 1st
Ftr Wing 320 Sq at Mitchell Field, NY where
he guarded the Big Apple and scared the
natives on Long Island while flying 263
hours in three months. He and 16 other Jug
pilots had 20 Razorbacks, a few new ones
from the Farmingdale Plant (a short Ferry
Flight!). He arrived in England with 112
new Jug replacement pilots in April 1944.
He was assigned to the 507 Sq, 404 Ftr Gp
commanded by Red McColpin, former Eagle
Sq member. The 404 "Tin Hornets" flew
sweeps and bomber escorts until "D" Day.
Then dive bombing and straffing with "D"
model Jugs from airfields carved out of apple
orchards and captured German airfields
across Europe!
He completed 102 combat missions and
had many memorable experiences with the
507 Leap About Sq dodging enemy aircraft
strafing passes, chasing German Buzz Bombs
(full throttle turbo to firewall and water)
souvenir hunting in enemy occupied territory
(Lugar-Mauser-Motorcycles) several R&R's to Paris and London and listening to
distant gunfire.
He returned to the U.S. on end of hostilities
and married a girl from his hometown,
Dell Gregory. They have three children,
Greg, Sandra, and Jeanee. He elected to
become a regular Air Force officer and
instructed pilot training in all phases. He
arrived in Korea as a Mustang pilot in 1952
and served as Liaison Officer to British Army
forces after flying a combat tour with the 67
Tac Recce. He was awarded the Order of the
British Empire (OBE) by the Queen of Eng.
land. After many assignments in Training
and Material support for new weapons sys.
tems (T-37, T-38, and all current fighters
and Recce aircraft, he retired in 1971 as a Lt
Col with 31 years active duty and over 7000 flying hours.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service,
Air Medal - 18 clusters and the British OBE. He flew the Jug 463 hours and
Received credit for 2 ME 109s destroyed. He resides in San Antonio, Texas and is a member of the Order of Daedalians, an order of Military pilots.
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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John Abbotts
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P-47 transition followed at Pocatello, Idaho and Greenville, Texas after which he was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group in England. When the news of his arrival reached Berlin, Hitler retired to his bunker with his cyanide capsule and revolver. Eva found the news equally depressing.
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Asa A. Adair
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He returned to the States in August of 1944 after participating in the invasion "D" Day. He flew P-63's, P-51's, F-80's, T-33's, F-84's, T-38's, P-47's in numerous assignments during the following twenty years in in, Japan, U.S.A. and Europe before retiring after twenty-six years of Active Duty.
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Edward B. Addison
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The 507th Fighter Group, equipped with P-47N's, won the Presidential Unit Citation for destroying 32 Japanese aircraft in the air on one mission to Seoul, Korea. The average flying time for raids to Korea and Japan would be 7 to 9 hours flying time. In a total of 31 months, the 507th not only provided top cover for B-29's, but also
dive-bombed, napalm-bombed and flew low-level on strafing missions.
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Levon B. Agha-Zarian
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It is rumored that he, took his primary training on a flying rug. He flew Spits, briefly, in England, but as the, war moved to the East, he was sent to India as a Sgt. Pilot and first saw action from Ceylon, flying the Curtiss P.36, the Brewster Buffalo, and the Hurricane. At this point he might have opted for the rug! This was at the time of the fall of Singapore and the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse.
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George N. Ahles
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Posted to A-20 light bomber squadron Barksdale Field, Louisiana. . Group moved to Hunter Air Base Savannah, Georgia. Qualified for Pilot training November 1940. Entered Aviation Cadets January 1942. Presented wings November 1942 class of 42-J. Married Mary Louise while in Advanced Pilot Training at Craig AFB, Selma, Alabama, September 1942.
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Roy J. Aldritt
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Shortly after the group moved to France he ran into some unseen flak and was forced to make a nylon descent behind the lines; some evasion and a lot of luck had him back with his unit
in 24 hours.
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Eugene J. Amaral
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After graduation from Stonington High School he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in December 1942 and was called to active duty in March, 1943. He received his wings and commission at Spence Field, Georgia as a member of the Class of 43-C.
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Talmadge L. Ambrose
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Flew 84 missions thru VE Day, was downed by 22mm ground fire over Siefried Line. He destroyed 11 enemy aircraft, 9 known confirmed in air and on
ground, including 4 FW 190-D's in one afternoon over Hanover, Germany, April 8, 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 17 man, Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, Pacific Theatre and European Theatre Meda1s with 5 Battle
Stars and Unit Citation Medal.
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John C. Anderson
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After P-47 transition he was assigned to the 406th Fighter Group, 512th Fighter Squadron. (E.T
.0.) He flew 56 missions through January, 1945 destroying supply routes, bridges, and railroads; he also flew close support missions with the ground forces, with attacks on tanks, artillery and enemy positions.
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William Anderson
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It was not always flak,two ME-109's beat the hell out of me one day. The central controller called me and said "Basher-Red Leader do you have contact Bandits," I replied, "I sure do, I'll bring them over the field in 3 minutes, they're chasing me home." Got all the usual medals including two Belgium and two French but one I'm most proud of is the Silver Star -it is the greatest.
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