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Ralph Anderson Jr.
Ralph Anderson Jr., born California, birthdate August 26, 1918. Raised and completed schooling in Santa Barbara, CA. Pre- WW II occupation as salesman with wholesale meat company until enlistment, U.S. Army, November 19, 1941.
Graduated from Army Engineer School, Ft. Belvoir, VA, June 1942, commissioned 2nd Lt. Initial commisioned service with combat Engineers,
Conastee Army Air Field, Greenville, SC. (Later known as Donaldson AFB). Entered flight training as Student Officer (to gain eternal hatred of all Cadets!) December 1942 and graduated from S.E. jAdvanced Class of 43-G in July 1943 at Spence Field, Moultrie, GA.
Commissioned 1st Lt. Army Air Corps. P-40 fighter training completed in September 1943, at Sarasota, FL and departed for China-Burma-India combat operations in October, 1943. While serving 14 months in the 88th Ftr. Sq., 80th Ftr. Gp. in India and Burma, completed 132 combat missions, 330 combat hours in P-40 and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters.
On first combat mission over the Hump on a 20,000 ft. patrol, flying wing on George F. Schlagel, was jumped by Japanese , formation and was awarded one probable Zero (Japanese Oscar) destroyed. On December 13, 1943, returning from escort mission with flight of six P-40's, flying wing on Regis L. Pappert, intercepted and attacked 60 plus Japanese, confirming one Jap
Oscar and damaging one Betty Bomber.
Remainder of missions flown in support of Merill's Mauraders, Wingate's Raiders and Stillwell's Chinese; close support (10 yards), bomb and strife, patrol and escort and had no further opportunity for aerial combat.
During thirty years service, served in the Pacific Division MATS during Korean action, the African Congo with NATO in 1961 and USAF in Vietnam in 1967. Performed various Staff Civil Engineer assignments with Hdqtrs. Air Proving
Ground command, Hdqtrs. USAF, and Hdqtrs. USEUCOM and retired in 1969 at Hamilton AFB, CA in grade of Lt. Col.
Decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with one cluster, the Air Medal with two clusters, Presidential Unit Citations, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars.
Retired, living in Santa Barbara, CA. Two sons, Shane and Dana, live in Santa Barbara and a daughter, Linda, living in Colorado Springs, CO.
Elected Secretary of the P-40 Warhawk Pilots Ass'n in 1978 and currently serving as President of the Warhawks for the 1979- 1980 term.
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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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