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Walter L. Flagg
WALTER L. FLAGG, born 15 April
1921 in Warwick, Rhode Island and enlisted
in January 1942 in the Army Air Corps after
Pearl Harbor. Was accepted for Aviation
Cadet Training in October 1942 and graduated from the SEAFTC (Maxwell AFB, Alabama; Union City, Tennessee; Malden, Missouri; Napier Field, Dothan, Alabama) as a
2nd Lt. in August 1943. Transitioned to
P47s at Ft. Myers, Florida and was assigned
to the 8th Fighter Command in England in
the 56 Fighter Group, 63rd Fighter Squadron.
Flew two tours of combat with the 56th
Group flying P-47 s in all phases of combat
from high altitude escort to low level interdiction. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 clusters, the Air Medal with 13
clusters, Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Citation with 2 clusters and European a theatre with 6 battle stars.
Released from active duty in June 1945
and attended University of Rhode Island and
graduated with B.S. in Engineering Physics.
Was a member of the 152 Fighter Squadron,
Rhode Island Air National Guard, flying
P-51s until return to active duty in 1951.
Served in various positions including Commander 69 Fighter Squadron 58 Fighter
Wing K.55 OSAN Korea and Traffic Officer
for MATs (C-124s) at Dover AFB until
transfer from primary flying to research and
development in AF systems command in
1961. Served as Chief Engineering and Safety on the Gemini Launch Vehicle Manned
Space Program and the Manned Orbiting
Laboratory until retirement as Lt. Col. in
1969. Retired in the Cape Canaveral area of
Florida and presently works as Aerospace
Engineer on the Space Shuttle for Planning
Research Corporation.
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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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