|
Richard J. Fox
RICHARD J. FOX, born August 3,
1923 to Mr. and Mrs. John R. Fox, enlisted
on his nineteenth birthday after graduating
from High School in June of 1942. He was
inducted as an Aviation Cadet on February 6,
1943, trained in the class of 43-J and was
graduated and commissioned at Selma, Alabama. Fighter Pilot's training was completed
at Bluethanthal Field, North Carolina in
P-47's. Sent overseas in March of 1944, Fox
joined the 9th Air Force's 396th Fighter
Squadron of the 368th Fighter Group, stationed at Childbolten, England. Six days after
D-day, the 368th began the first of many
moves across Europe, starting at Strip A-3 in
Normandy and ending at Nurnberg, Germany shortly after V.E day. Missions consisted
of bombing and strafing attacks on airfields,
rail and highway bridges, trains, vehicles,
flak positions and V-weapon sites, and in close
support for American troops and Tank columns. During the Battle of the Bulge, in a
dog fight, Fox was hit in the wing and
super-charger by a FW-190. The hydraulic
system burned and his left wing aileron cable
was severed. After two unintended snap-rolls
and quick look behind, he saw the FW-190 in
flames and a P-47 with Billy Dean Dunbar
pulling up fast as an escort home where he
made a successful belly landing.
While in the Service, Fox was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal
with 15 oak leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Unit Citation, the Belgium Fourragere. Fox returned to the States June 17,
1945 and was officially released from Service on October 28th. He became a partner-owner of a Screw Machine Products Co. for
eleven years, worked for Oster Avonics Division for two and A.C Spark Plug, a division of
General Motors for 5 years. Since that time
he has been employed at American Motors
Corp., as a Junior Designer and Quality
Control Engineer. In 1952 he married Lois
Jensen of Racine and has five children,
Nanette, Susan, Dennis, Scott and -Ronald
and two grandchildren.
|
Pilot Name
|
Biography Summary
|
|
John Abbotts
|
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.
|
|
Asa A. Adair
|
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.
|
|
Edward B. Addison
|
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.
|
|
Levon B. Agha-Zarian
|
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.
|
|
George N. Ahles
|
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.
|
|
Roy J. Aldritt
|
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.
|
|
Eugene J. Amaral
|
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.
|
|
Talmadge L. Ambrose
|
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.
|
|
John C. Anderson
|
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.
|
|
William Anderson
|
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.
|
|
|