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Staryl C. Austin
STARYL C. AUSTIN, JR., born on September 16, 1920, in Condon, Oregon. After graduation from Salem High School, Salem, Oregon, in 1938, he entered the automobile painting business with his father who had been a gunner on Handley-Page bombers in World War I.
Enlisting in the Air Corps in 1942, he first went through CPT Primary. Qualifying as an Aviation Cadet, he completed pilot training at Spence Field, Georgia, in Class 43-I. On completion of P-47 transition at Richmond, Virginia, he was assigned as a P-47 Instructor Pilot at Dover, Delaware. A year later he joined the 410th Fighter Squadron, 373rd Fighter Group, in Belgium, remaining with the same unit until V.E Day and completing 58 missions before the European War ended.
Returning to the U.S. with the 373rd to re-equip and participate in the attack on Japan, he was on leave on V.J Day. Was awarded the Air Medal with
seven oak leaf clusters, various campaign ribbons, and the Belgian Fourragere.
While studying for an Aeronautical Engineering degree, he became a charter member of the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard at Tulsa. The unit was activated on October 1O, 1950, with Major Austin as its Commander. Flying first the Republic F-84B, then new "G" models, the unit flew its aircraft to Europe in 1952, following the "Fox Able" route across
the North Atlantic.
On release from active duty in 1953, he returned to Oregon and became Commander, 142nd Fighter Interceptor Group, Oregon Air National Guard, flying F-86's.Appointed Assistant Adjutant General, Air, for Oregon in 1963 and promoted to Brigadier General. Presently serving as Deputy Adjutant General of Oregon.
Joined the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association in 1969, but has never been able to attend a reunion. Married Jacqueline Judd in 1945 and has two sons, Steven and Andrew.
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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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