Urban L. Drew
URBAN L. DREW, born March 21,
1924 in Detroit, Michigan. He received his
education at Wayne University (Detroit) and
the University of Michigan, graduating with
a degree in Political Science.
He graduated from the Southeast Training
Command at Marianna Florida in the class of
43-I. After receiving his RTU training in
Bartow, Florida, in P-51's, he was retained as
in instructor in Mustangs until he was
shipped to the E.T.0. and assigned to the
375th Fighter Squadron, 36lst Fighter
Group in June 1944. He flew 319 hours of
combat in 76 missions with the "Yellowjackets" and received the Distinguished Flying
Cross plus cluster and the Air Medal plus
thirteen clusters, and the ETO Battle Ribbon
with three battle stars. He was credited with
the following victories. 6 - (Air) (3-Me-109's, 1-He.111, 2.Me-262's); 1 - (Air)
(Me-109, damaged); 1 - (Ground) (Ju-52,
destroyed); 1 - (Water) shared destroyed,
only German BV-238 VI six engine flying
Boat; 11 - Locomotives, destroyed; 7 -
Locomotives, damaged; 4 - Barges,
destroyed, water.
Drew was the first and only Allied pilot to
shoot down two (2) German jet aircraft
(ME-262's) in one aerial combat, on October
7, 1944, the first operational losses of the
Kommando Novotny.
Drew was transferred after his stint in the
ETO to the 413th Fighter Squadron, 414th'
Fighter Group- flying P-47N-5's and was
based on Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. He was
awarded one more Air Medal. and the Asiatic
Pacific Ribbon with two (2) battle stars.
He returned to the USA, and was discharged, and accepted a commission in the
Michigan Air National Guard. He became
Deputy Group Commander and subsequently, was appointed the first Air Adjutant
General of the State of Michigan.
Leaving the services in 1950. he started
up several charter companies and today is
President of Caprivi Airways, a scheduled
airline in the Territory of South West Africa.
He is married to the former Lynette Cronje,
and they make their home in Pretoria. South
Africa. His son. David. just graduated from
Thunderbird University in Arizona.
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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