Richard E. Grant
RICHARD E. GRANT, born April 4,
1923 in Pittsburgh, Pa., enlisted in Aviation
Cadets in April 1942 and graduated at Moore
Field in Class 43-G. After P-47 transition at
Perry, Fla., an overseas assignment to the
57th Fighter Group, 65th Fighter Squadron
was made in Nov. 1943. He flew 143 missions terminating his combat activities in
Dec. 1944.
He was shot down three times and "shot
up" 23 times during this period. Two of the
downings resulted in crash landings at Angio
and Pisa, and the third was on his 100th
mission resulting in a ditching off the "tip of
the finger" of Corsica. These incidents were
all caused by 20mm and 88mm ground fire
and earned the nickname "Magnet Ass" from
squadron mates. He terminated active service in 1947 with the rank of Major. Decorations included the DFC and Air Medal with
17 Clusters. Subsequent military activities
included Squadron Commander, 14th Night
Fighter Squadron, AFR; CO 147 th Fighter
Squadron PANG; and Group Commander in
a USAFR training wing. Highest rank
achieved was Lt. Col.
Grant has been in aircraft sales since
1959, working all of this time with Campbell
Air Midwest in Pittsburgh. This company is
engaged in sales of the Piper Cheyenne turboprop in the northeastern U.S.
Starting to fly in 1940, he has racked up in
excess of 18,000 hours of military and civilian flying time. Current duties have slacked
off the flying time to an average 350 hours
per year.
He continues lifelong hobbies of music and
photography, and participates in many musical activities with friends from high school
and big band days.
He married Gerry Antonini in 1957 and
has three children; Kathy and Rich by an
earlier marriage, and stepdaughter Carol.
Score to date is one granddaughter, Ashley,
and a second grandchild due in May 1980.
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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