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Donald A. Angell
DONALD A. ANGELL, (Don), Wife: Frances, Four children. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan on 12 April 1921. Attended the Univ. of Miami (FL)
Enlisted June 1942 in Army Air Corps, but not called until Feb. 43. Terrorized the natives through Aviation Cadet Training in Texas: San Antonio Classification and Preflight: Ballanger for Primary; Goodfellow for Basic; and Moore Field, McAllen for Single Engine Advance. Graduated with the class of 44B. Survived
fifteen hours in the P-40 and was sent to P-48 RTU in Bruning, Nebraska.
Following a comprehensive ground school program (consisting of a short lecture and a funny movie) the romance with the Jug began. First flight logged on 329 April 44. After the initial disappointment of not getting P-38s or 51s, it was easy to fall in love with the P-47. While it wasn't "love at first sight" it was "love at first flight".
Experiences in RTU include: managed to pick up a 100lb practice bomb in the horizontal stabilizer while skip bombing (they said it couldn't be done); discovered that the Jug almost stopped flying when you fired all eight 50s at 35, 000 feet; and that it had the glide angle of a footlocker. An oxygen malfunction on a high altitude cross country resulted in a belly landing - did a nice job of replowing a field that was being plowed at the time.
Next was Advanced Combat Training at Atchem Air Base (AAF 342), England. Assigned to the 10thFtr. Sq, 50th Ftr Grp, 9th AF, in Aug 44. Joined unit near Carantan, France (A-17). Completed 87 combat missions and 232 hours. Awarded Air medal with 10 OL Cluster, ETO medal with three Battle Stars. Also the Presidential Unit Citation with Cluster. While air-to-air engagements were minimal, did get some bursts at a ME-262, the same flight that clobbered
General Galland (26 Apr 45).
Total Jug time was 363 hours. Separated Sept 45, married, and joined Mich ANG. Squadron activated Feb 51. Completed twenty years A/D in Feb 68 as Major. Have resided since in the Palm Beaches, doing Advertising and Promotions.
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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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