Arthur E. Exon
ARTHUR E. EXON, born March 13,
1916 near Geddes, S. Dak. Graduate of
Southern State Normal School with a teaching Certificate. Taught school, was principal of Junior High School and coached High
school athletics at Fairfax, S. Dak., 1938
thru Jan. 1942. Entered Army as private,
became an Aviation Cadet, 2nd Lt and Pilot
in- Flying Class 42-J. Joined 57th Fighter
Group, 64th Fighter Squadron in January
1943 near Bengasi, North Africa. Was
named the Squadron Commander of 64th
Ftr. Sqd. "Black Scorpion" the end of July
1943 as a 1st Lt. Commanded the Squadron
thru April 1944 when was forced to bailout
over enemy territory in Italy due to Aircraft
Fire. Was a prisoner of War for a year and
nine days. Returned to the United States,
with the rank of Major in June 1945, promoted to Lt. Col. in October of 1945. Made
application for Regular Commission which
was granted in July 1946. Spent 30 years in
the Air Force, retiring in May 1969 as a
Brigadier General.
Art flew 135 missions in P-40 and P-47
aircraft without a break in tour with the 64th
"Black Scorpion" Ftr. Sqd., and was awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, British Distinguished
Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Air Medal with
21 Oak Leaf Clusters, two French Quir De
Guerre, one with Cross and one with Palm,
Purple Heart and various Combat and Thea.
ter Defense Medal. Two Me-l09's confirmed
in Air Combat.
Have worked continually since retiring
and presently am President of a company that
manages approximately 40 ranches in California, producing almonds, walnuts, pistachios, citrus fruit, raisin and wine grapes.
Still flying as a Commercial Pilot, using
Company owned aircraft for business and
pleasure.
Married Margaret "Scotty" H. Scott in
June 1945, and we have two sons, Jack R.
and Douglas A., both flying Captains in the
USAF.
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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