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Robert R. Deen
ROBERT R. DEEN, Lt. Col. USAF-
Ret. Born - Lead, South Dakota, Aug.
21. Graduated - Lead High School Class of
39, One year - Black Hills Teacher's College. Volunteered for Aviation Cadets 7 Dec.41. Finally sworn into Enlisted Reserve
Corps 21 July 42 but still not called into
training until Feb. 43 with class 43-K. Classification and Pre-Flight at San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center, Primary at Hat Box Field,
Basic at Coffeyville, Advanced at Moore
Field - graduating 5 Dec. 43. P-47
advanced tactical training at Dale Mabry
Field, Tallahassee, Fla. From there to 81st
Ftr Gp, 93rd Sqdn, near Cheng Tu, China
using Jugs to provide high altitude air defense
for B-29 staging bases. One of the first units
to work with AC&W radar pioneering concepts later employed by Air Defense Command. Due to lack of fuel 93rd was detached
to Gushkara, India and pilots from other two
squadrons rotated through to maintain proficiency. During 20 months in CBI managed to acquire a grand total of two combat missions;
both of which are still the lot of the interceptor pilot - early morning, not yet light, soup
on the deck and up to just above assigned
angels and "Bogey" identified as friendly
just after wheels are in the well. Only then we
had no instrument training, a bare bones
cockpit and no nav aids. Don't tell me Jug
pilots knew no fear! After end of hostilities
rotated to Perrin Field, Texas and separated
into the Resrve program in Oct. 46. During
time out joined a partnership in founding
Byrd's Jewelers in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Stayed active in Reserve flying T-6s and
T-l1s. Recalled in Dec. 51 to train as AC&W
Intercept Director. Tour in Europe then to
jet up-grading at Craig and All-Weather
Interceptor training in F-94Cs at Moody.
Then, quite naturally to 460th FIS at Portland International to fly F-89s and Deuces.
Best FIS AF ever knew! From 460th to 25th
Air Division in Opns Div. and on to 51 st Ftr
Wg on Okinawa in 0 and T, to DaNang in
Base Ops. After which established Office of
Air Force Representative to FAA Pacific
Region and on to same position with FAA
Western Region from which retired as Lt.
Col. Reserve Retired.
Awards besides theater and unit - Air
Force Commendation and Meritorious Service. Presently President - Byrd's Jewelers Inc.
Military Aircraft flown: PT-19, PT-23,
BT-13, AT-6, P-40, P-47 all but N, P-51,
T-33, F-94C, F-89, F-I02, C-47, C-54, L-5, L-20, H-19, etc.
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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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