Lyle H. Duba
LYLE H. DUBA, born March 9, 1923
near Academy, S. Dak. Enlisted in the Army
Air Corps in June 1941 upon graduation
from high school at Platte, S. Dak. Graduated
from the Airplane Mechanics School at Chanute Field, Ill. and transferred to Aviation Cadet in July, 1942. Graduated and commissioned at Foster Field, Victoria, Tex. in the
Class of 43C. Took P-40 training at Sarasota,
Fla. and joined the 57th Fighter Group,
65th Squadron in Sicily in August, 1943.
The 57th was re-equipped with P-47s in Dec.
1943 and pioneered in the adaptation of the
high-altitude P-47 ad a low-level strafing and
dive-bombing aircraft.
Was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross and the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf
Clusters. After 129 combat missions over
Sicily, Italy and Yugoslavia returned to the
ZOI with rank of Captain in August of 1944.
Went through the instrument instructors
school at Lubbock, Tex. and instructed cadets
in instruments for duration of active duty.
Returned to the farm in S. Dak. in July of
1945 and married Doris Nachtigal, also of
Academy in June 1946. Has four daughters,
Judy, Ruth, Jean and Doreen. Left the farm
in 1955 and worked for the U.S. Forest
Service for two years. In 1957 transferred to
the Railway Mail Service at St. Paul, Minn.
and again transferred to the Federal Aviation
Administration in 1969. The last eleven
years employed as an Air Traffic Control
Specialist at Eau Claire, Wis. Redwood Falls,
Minn. Kenai, Alaska and presently at Alexandria, Minn. Will retire in Oct. 1981 with 30
years Federal service. Life member of P-47
Thunderbolt Pilots Association.
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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