Wayne S. Dodds
WAYNE S. DODDS, born March 29,
1916 near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, graduated
Iowa State University with a Chemical Engineering Degree in 1940. His professional
career began at Merck and Co. working on
the development of penicillin and other pharamaceuticals. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted
as an Aviation Cadet in 1942 and trained in
class of 43-I, graduating and commissioned
at Mission, Texas, First assignment 6th Air
Force Panama Canal defense forces, flying
P-39's and P-40's. Returned to U.S. with
29th Fighter Squadron equipped with P-51's
and assigned 3rd Air Force. Mid 1944, Dodds
transferred to Mediterranean Theater and
assigned to the 57th Fighter Group, 66th
Fighter Squadron. The 57th was committed
to "Operation Strangle," cutting off of supplies to enemy forces in Italy. He flew 105
missions through VE Day destroying supply
routes, ammunition depots, bridges, railroads, tunnels, close support attacks on tanks
and artillery. He was downed by 20 mm
ground fire on the 54th mission and required
31 days to maneuver through enemy lines to
friendly territory. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and Air
Medal with 6 Clusters.
Released from active duty July 20, 1945,
as a Captain he returned to a scientific career.
As Director of the Engineering Laboratory at
Northwestern University (where he earned
his Ph.D.) Dodds was involved with the
purification of the air of Nuclear Submarines. As Engineering Research Manager at
General Foods, he guided the development of
Tang, Dream Whip, Maxim Freeze Dried
Coffee, and other food concepts. With five
others in 1962, a science research company
was formed, with Dodds serving as president
from 1963 through 1974. Creating and
developing companies around product concepts has since been his field of activity.
Charter member of the P-47 Thunderbolt
Pilots Association, he was Vice President
from 1976 to 1978 and President from
1978 to 1980. He married Shirley West in
1949 and has three children, Sam, Kathy,
and Debra.
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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