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George W. Fosdick
GEORGE W. FOSDICK, born February 1, 1924 in Winchester, New Hampshire, graduated Crom Thayer High School in
June 1942. He enlisted as an Aviation Cadet
in 1942 and trained in class 43-J, graduating and commissioned at Marianna, Florida.
Trained in P-47 Thunderbolt at Richmond,
Virginia and Millville, New Jersey, thence to
the European Theater and assignment to the
50th Fighter Group, 10th Fighter Squadron
spring of 1944. The 50th was flying bomber
escort and interdiction missions from England. After D-Day, the 50th provided close
air support across Northern France, then up
through Southern France and on into Germany. He flew 94 missions through VE Day
destroying supply routes, ammunition
depots, bridges, railroads, tunnels, close support attacks on tanks, artillery and attacks on
enemy airfields and aircraft. He was awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal
with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters and Unit Citation
with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.
Released from active duty December 1,
1945, as a First Lieutenant, he began his
professional career, graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1950 with an
Aeronautical Engineering Degree. His professional career began at Bell Helicopter
Company working on the design and development of helicopter rotor and control systems until 1957. He was a member of the Texas
ANG flying F-80's (1953-1956); on USAF
active duty (1957-1960) ferrying F-100's
to Europe along with a tour of duty in the
Azores controlling mass deployment of aircraft between the US and Europe. He
returned to his professional career in 1960
by joining Kaman Aircraft Company, thence
to civilian service with the US Army helicopter Research and Development Laboratory,
Fort Eustis, Virginia in 1963 which has since
been his field of activity. He was a member of
the Virginia ANG flying F-84's from 1963 to
1971 attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is presently a part time certified flight
instructor single engine and multi-engine
airplane, with an Airline Transport Pilot
rating. He married Margaret Moore in 1948
and has five children, Bob, Bill, Ray, Karen,
Sue and three grandchildren, Bruce, Brandon, and Trevor, and one in the hangar.
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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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