Donald E. Frye
DONALD E. FRYE, born February
21,1920 in Fort Scott, Kansas. He attended
public schools in Paola and Fort Scott, Kansas and KSTC in Pittsburg. He started flying
in the CPTP sponsored by the US Navy in
1940 at Fort Scott JU-Co and KSTC. He was
in Class 42-C, receiving his wings and commission at Stockton Field, California 16 March, 1942. At Esler Field, Louisiana he
was assigned to the 12th Obs Sqdn flying
P-39s, P-40s, P-51s, DB-7s, B-25s, P-47s
and various other liaison type aircraft as well
as P-43s in preparation for combat. He went
to England in September 1942 and flew
Spitfires in the 8th Air Force and on
detached service with 453 Sqdn RAAF and
66 Sqdn RAF. He was called back to the 9th
Air Force to help activate the 354th Fighter
Gp at Boxted serving as assistant Group Ops.
Then on to Assistant A-3 job at 1OOth Fighter
Wing Hq. He then went to 382nd Fighter
Sqdn flying P-51 s until it was disbanded, at
which time he was assigned to the 412th
Fighter Sqdn, 373rd Fighter GP flying P-47s.
After a few months flying P-47s he was
shipped home to a Convalescent Hospital in
Florida. After release from the hospital he
attended the AF Instrument Instructors
School at Lubbock, Texas and instructed at
Perrin Field and Randolph Field, Texas and
then on to Saitozaki, Japan as a Radar Officer. All told he spent eleven years overseas
during his 22 years in the Service which
included 6 tours in England, France, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Greece, Azores,
Spain and Morocco.
He was awarded the DFC, Air Medal W/4 0LC, AF Commendation, AF Good Conduct, Army Good Conduct W/4 Knots, Pre
Pearl Harbor, Am Theater, EAME W/4
Battle stars, WW II Victory, Occupation, and
AM Defense Service Medal. He married
Mabel C. Smith on 17 March, 1942 and they
have 4 children; Gary, Donald Jr., James and
Doris.
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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