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A. Frank Dalton
A. FRANK DALTON, DR. born
November 11, 1921 in Hendersonville, N.C.
After graduating from N.C. State University
with a Bachelor of Science Degree, in 1942,
he joined the Air Force as an Aviation Cadet,
being sent for training in the Southeast and
received his wings at Craig Field, Selma,
Alabama August, 1943. As part of the 325th
Squadron at Millville, N.J., he flew missions
intercepting unidentified planes approaching the New Jersey and Maryland Coast.
Requesting combat, he was assigned to the
48th Fighter Group, 492nd Fighter Squad.
ron, Ninth Air Force at Ringwood, Southern
England. In addition to dive bombing, strafing and patrol missions, he escorted light bombers of the 9th in raids over France and
the low countries. Some missions were flown
with the 48th joining fighters of the 8th Air
Force escorting B-17 and B-24s in raids over
Germany.
On June 27, 1944, the 48th went to
France where they flew from a dirt strip.
Within a few days, they took part in the first
great tank battle between American and German armor in France.
On his 30th mission,. July 23, 1944,
flying at 200 feet, trying to destroy a German
observation tower, he was shot down by
ground fire and crashed in the woods. Regaining consciousness, he discovered the Germans had removed him to a barn. At night he
was moved to Rennes, France and with 500
other American and British prisoners was
recaptured by General Patton's 3rd Army
two weeks later. After thirty months in hospitals, he was retired as a Captain.
After retirement from the Air Force, he
graduated from Northern Illinois College of
Optometry, is practicing in Gastonia, N.C.,
served as President of the N.C. State Optometric Society, and as a member of the State Board of Examiners in Optometry.
He is married to the former Helen Barbee
and they have three children, Robert,
Suzanne and Karen.
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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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