Walter G. Graf
WALTER G. GRAF, born February
17, 1920, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Graduated Franklin and Marshall College,
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Received his wings
at Moore Field, Mission, Texas in the Class of
44F and P47 Thunderbolt Operational
Training at Abilene, Texas. Assigned to the
27th Fighter Group, 523rd Fighter Squadron, Twelfth Tactical Air Command at Pontedera, Italy in the winter of 1944-45. The
27th was transferred to St. Dizier, France, in
February of 1945 to supply Tactical Air
Support to the Seventh Army on the drive for
the Rhine. On March 20, 1945, "Coalbox"
Red Flight of four Thunderbolts looking for
targets of opportunity crossed Speyerdorf,
the main Luftwaffe Field in the German
Palatinate at tree-top level. All four Jugs
caught heavy flak and Graf bailed out at
minimum altitude when his caught fire and
exploded. After hiding in the mountains for
the rest of the day he walked in a westerly
direction at night hoping to make it to
France. On the second night he was captured
by Wehrmacht artillerymen and taken to
German headquarters. After an unsuccessful
attempt at interrogation he was sent enroute
to a prison camp somewhere deep in Germany. The car in which he and his captors were
travelling was caught by American artillery
fire and destroyed. Proceeding on foot for
two more days, Graf, who could speak German, became acquainted with his guards. On
the second night he lured one of the guards
aside, clobbered him and took off. This time
he was successful in getting through to the
lOOth Infantry Division of the American
Seventh Army which had just cracked the
Siegfried Line in this area. After a hot meal
and some medical attention for a wounded
leg, he was returned to base by an Infantry
L5. From there he was returned to the States
on Project "R."
Today, Graf is employed by the County of
Montgomery, Pennsylvania, as Chief Administrator of Farm and Forest Land to the Board
of Assessment. He lives in Fort Washington
with his wife, Irene. He has one daughter,
two sons and three grandchildren.
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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