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Johnny O. Crowell
JOHNNY O. CROWELL
("JOCKO") born 30 August 1922 in Charlotte, N.C. His first flight was on his second birthday with his father, a barnstormer and
air show pilot, who was later inducted into
the OX-5 Aviation Hall of Fame. Jocko was at
the Academy of Aeronautics at LaGuardia
Field in 1941 when an XP-47 made a forced
landing and it was love at first sight. His
dream became a fact when he was assigned to
a P-47 R.T.U. after graduating in the Class of
44-F and eventually being assigned to the
390th Squadron of the 366th Fighter Group
in Belgium. His most noteworthy achievement was buzzing the mess tent with a full combat load aboard. Gen Quesada was having
lunch with Col. H. N. Holt and ordered the
pilot to serve as O.D. for thirty days.
V.E. Day came and he along with the rest
of the junior pilots proceeded with the interesting occupation duty. After release from active duty he flew P-47's in the N.C.A.N.G.
for a total of more than 700 hours in the Jug.
The unit was called to active duty in 1950. In
Korea he was shot down by antiaircraft while
8trafing a train. He remained on active duty
after Korea serving in TAC with the exceptions of one year tours in A.D.C. and S.A.C.
Six years in TAC were served as squadron
commander.
While in SAC he served as operations
officer in the 91st Squadron which had 25
modified RF-84K's which contained black
boxes, a bent horizontal stabilizer and a
retractable hook on the nose that would hook
up with a trapeze on the B-36. After hook-up
the engine was shut down and the '84-K
would be elevated partially into the B-36,
where the pilot would get out and ride with
the crew to the target area where the process
would be reversed.
Crowell retired from the U.S.A.F. in October, 1966 as Lt. Col. and returned to his home town of Charlotte, N.C. As owner
operator of Crowell Aero Service, he patrolled power lines, flew aerial banners gratis for conservative politicians and flew a 5' x 7'
American flag behind a J-3 Cub over N.C.
and S.C. during the protest events of Vietnam.
He married his war-time sweetheart, Pat,
and they have two children, Terry and Larry.
He flew a total of 114 combat missions and
received the D.F.C., Purple Heart and Air
Medal with 2 clusters. He has been a member
of the Quiet Birdmen since 1957. Arthritis
forced his retirement from flying in 1972.
Crowell says flying the P-47 was his greatest achievement.
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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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