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Robert Mac Donald Fry
ROBERT MAC DONALD FRY,
born 3 July, 1921 in Erie, PA. Entered U.S.
Naval Academy from the Naval Reserve.
Became impatient to get into the war, so
resigned his midshipman's commission and
entered U.S. Army Aviation Cadet program;
graduating with class of 43-F. Assigned as a
fighter pilot to Richmond Army Air Field,
VA for transition training in "jugs."
Assigned Dover, DE to 388 Squadron, 365
Group for OTU. Fall of 1943 365 deployed
to UK double-loaded with 18,000 other
fighting men aboard "Queen Mary."
Unit first located in eastern England near
Braintree assigned to 9th AF, but on operational loan to 8th. Flew bomber escort missions until early 1944. 365 was then taken
"off ops," moved to RAF Fighter Station
near Bornemouth, fitted with bomb shackles,
and sent out on the unsuspecting English
countryside to practice dive-bombing. He
flew 130 Combat Missions, destroyed 7 enemy fighters, dropped many tons of bombs and fired over 100,000 rounds of .50 caliber
flying from many bases in UK, France,
Belgium and Germany. Was awarded the
DSC, Silver Star, DFC w/2 BOLC, Soldiers'
Medal, Air Medal w /5 SOLC and British
DFC, plus five campaign ribbons for ETO and
two Presidential Unit citations. In spring of
1945 he was a Major commanding 388
Squadron and rotated back to the ZI for R&R.
Married childhood sweetheart Betty Lou,
and before he could return to ETO V.E. Day
passed. He was off to Instrument School at
Bryan, TX, then to Mission, TX to command
the Instrument Training Group. After V.J.
Day, with Betty Lou pregnant with Charles,
he applied for integration into the Regular
Army. He was re-commissioned a permanent
2nd Lieut. (temp. Major) and continued his
service career. Assignments took the Frys to
Shaw Field, SC, Ashiya and Misawa, Japan
(where 2nd son David was born), Pittsburgh,
PA, Alaska as Commander of 66 F.I.S., from
Alaska to Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Sioux St. Marie, Michigan, Chicago and then on to Colorado Springs
in Air Defense Command Headquarters in
Plans and Programs doing weapon development "dreaming."
From ADC to Korea, then to District of
Columbia for an "academic year" at the
National War College. From Mt. McNair to
Stewart AFB as Base Commander to Ft. Lee
back to D.C. for assignment on the Joint
Staff. Frustrating years in the Pentagon took
their toll and in '68 he had a mild heart
attack. The flight surgeon grounded him, so
the logical step was to retire w /30 years and
rank of Colonel.
With Charles in police work in Colorado,
David a career officer in the Marine Corps,
Annapolis was picked for "sundown" living
because of wonderful living and sailing there.
So dividing the summers and winters between
Chesapeake Bay area and Florida, they settled into retired life. Betty Lou died, Robert met and married a wonderful woman Patricia
Weber Joesting and finally acquired the
daughters he had always wanted: Lynn and
Leslie. They presently live up the Severn
River a few miles from Annapolis, and spend
the hours sailing, traveling and enjoying life
full bore.
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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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