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Walter A. Grabowski
WALTER A. GRABOWSKI, born
5-19-22 in Niagara Falls and graduated
South Park H.S. Buffalo, N.Y. in '39. Got his
greetings in '42, immediately took evasion
action, passed the Air Cadet exam and
entered service 12-1-42. Trained, graduated
and was commissioned at Craig with class
44D. Assigned Nov. '45 to the 405th F.G.
which was supporting Patton's 3rd army
through France and Belgium. Flew 10 missions and got his name drawn for Air Support duty in the Bulge battle on 12-26-44. He was
with the infantry and tankers for the next two
months until the Bulge got cleaned up.
During the 1974 London reunion, Walt and
his wife Karen planed over to Bastogne to
visit the Jean Wansard family that billeted
Walt for 4 days during the height of the
Bastogne corridor battle.
He got back to his outfit the end of Feb.'45 and flew 18 more missions to VE Day.
Flying wing through his 28 missions he
didn't get much chance for any victories in
the 4 or 5 times they did run into enemy aircraft.
Flak was the biggest problem at this time.
Over Essen, Walt got hit by 40mm. flak that
knocked off his left wing to the pitot tube. His
Jug got him back OK but without flight
instruments Walt guesstimates he had to set
down at around 180 with about a six revolution ground-loop at the end of the pierced
plank air strip. Walt has been awarded the Air
Medal with two OLC and the ETO Ribbon
with 3 battle stars. Released from active duty
11.1.45 he took advantage of the GI Bill and
got his BBA in Feb. '48 from Clarkson
College of Technology. He also remained in
the reserve and presently holds the rank of
Lt. Col., retired in 1972. Presently he is a
Special Representative with the John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co.
He is also one of our Charter and Life
members. Walt lives in N.Y. and is married to the former
Karen Thayer and has three children Christopher, Jennifer and John.
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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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