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Jack Elliot
JACK ELLIOT, COLONEL USAF
(RET.), born Austin, Texas, 1924 and
entered Air Corps, November 1942 as Aviation Cadet. Joined 346 Fighter Squadron
(P-47's) 350th group, Tanquenia,Italy,September 1944. He flew 126 combat missions,
Fighter Bomber, in Operation Strangehold
during the Appienne, Rome-Arno, Po Valley
and Southern Europe campaigns. Gun camera and eye-witness accounts confirmed he
destroyed or probably destroyed sixty-two
enemy locomotives. This was believed by
HQS 12th Air Force to be one of the highest
single P47 pilot records in WWII. Also
confirmed, were four enemy aircraft
destroyed and two more probably destroyed
on the airdromes of north Italy and Austria.
In April, 1945 when the U.S. 5th Army
launched the offensive to break out of the
Appienne Mountains. He was assigned as the
Forward Air Controller to the 10th Mountain Infantry and the First Armored Division
until the end of WWII, May 8, 1945.
Serving in an infantry battalion, he directed
P-47 close air support in the vital crossing of
the Po River. The following week he became
Air Support Director for General Darcey
(Dieppe Raid Fame) then commanding the
First Armored Division. He controlled P-47
Air Support during the seizure of Verona,
and the follow-up amphibious assault up
Lake Garda to seize Trento in the Brenner
Pass blocking the German Armies retreat.
After WWII, he completed his law degree
at the University of Texas and became a
member of the Texas and American Bar
Association. In 1951, he became Assistant
Staff Judge Advocate, Far East Air Forces
Tokyo, until the end of the Korean War.
Subsequently, he graduated from the Air
Command and Staff College, the Armed
Forces Staff College and the Naval War
College, Senior Course. He served as a war
planner in SAC Hqs; Chief Military-Political
Plannning, Hqs, CINCPAC; Dep. Chief for
JCS matters, plans and policy staff, HQ,
USAF; and was deputy for War Plans and
Policy, Supreme Headquarters Allied powers
Europe, Casteau, Belgium, when in 1974, a
stroke resulted in his early retirement from
the Air Force at age 50, after 32 1/2 years of
Service.
His decorations include: The Legion of
Merit, 1 OLC; The Distinguished Flying
Cross, 1 OLC; The Meritorious Service Med.
al; The Air Medal, 6 OLCs; The Joint Chiefs
of Staff Commendation Medal; The U.S.
Army Commendation Medal; The U.S. Air
Force Commendation Medal, 1 OLC; The
Joint Chiefs of Staff Medallion. WWII, Korean and Viet Nam Campaign medals.
Now in retirement, he resides in Austin,
Texas.
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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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