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Harry L. Gogan
HARRY L. GOGAN, born April 6,
1922 in Buffalo, New York. He began his
aviation career as an aircraft mechanic,
graduating from Burgard Vocational High
School in 1939 and obtaining employment at
Curtiss-Wright Corporation in Buffalo. In
1942 he left to study aeronautical engineering at the University of Alabama and subsequently enlisted as an Aviation Cadet,
graduating in the Class of 44-A. After training in P-40s and P-47s with the 321st Squadron in North Carolina, he was assigned
to the 57th Fighter Group, 66th Fighter
Squadron. He flew 49 missions through
December 1944 when he was shot down over
Rovereto, Italy and captured. After release
from P.O.W. Camp in May 1945 he returned
to flying duty in the United States at Craig
Field, Alabama and was released from active
duty in December 1945. He had been awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.
He returned to the University of Alabama,
where he received a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Aeronautical Engineering in
1948. During this time he also received a
commercial pilot's license and flew occasional charter flights. After graduation he joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (now NASA) at Langley Research
Center where he worked as an aeronautical
research scientist on transonic buffeting
problems. He also attended graduate school
in engineering at the University of Virginia.
In 1951 he became a civilian employee of the
Air Force at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico working on compatibility testing of nuclear weapons on fighter and bomber aircraft. He participated in a number o live nuclear tests and continued his education at the University of New Mexico and Harvard University where he received a Master's of Public Administration in 1964.
He returned to New Mexico and in 1972 was appointed Technical Director of the Air Force Special Weapons Center. In 1976 he was assigned to the Directorate of Aerospace Studies and is currently Assistant Director.
He married Joan Lorraine Althen in 1947 and has four daughters, Mary Jo, Eileen, Susan, and Pamela. Mary Jo is married to Captain John Davee, an Air Force Fighter Pilot.
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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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