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Robert A. (Bob) Griffiths
ROBERT A. (BOB) GRIFFITHS, born 31 March 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Bay City
(Mich.) Junior College in June, 1942. He
enlisted in the Air Corps in October, 1942
and reported to San Antonio Aviation Cadet
Center for Classification and Pre-Flight in
the Class of 44-B. He was sent to Corsicana,
Texas for Primary Training. He flew BT-14's at Independence, Kansas in Basic.
Advanced Training was completed with AT-6's and P-40's at Moore Field, Mission,
Texas. R.T.U. Training at Abilene Army Air
Base was in the Jug.
Assigned to the 405th Fighter Group,
510th Fighter Squadron (Jenkin's Jerry
Junkers), he was in the 9th Air Force serving in France, Belgium and Germany. He
had one victory in aerial combat over Germany, and was shot down once, but landed
on American held territory. When the war
ended, he was stationed at Straubing, Germany, with 53 missions completed. He was
awarded the D.F.C., the Air Medal with 8
O.L.C., Presidential Unit Citation with one
O.L.C., European Theater of Operations
with four battle stars, and the Belgian Fourgierre.
He proved to be a considerable expense to
the Air Corps, having three category A/C's
and flack damage to his Jug on 23 missions.
When the war ended, Baron Riddel flew
into the airstrip along with several of his
pilots. They landed their JU-88's, FW-190's
and ME-I09's and surrendered.
Upon return to the States after the conclusion of the war, he was stationed at Perrin Field, Shherman, Texas. He married Lorraine Mosher of Bay City, Michigan in June
of 1946. Bob was separated from active
duty and placed in the Reserves in September of 1946 as Captain.
Bob and Lorraine have a daughter Carol,
and a son, Paul. Bob is now an Administrative Assistant in the Engineering Department of a State facility in Illinois. He and
Lorraine are also proprietors of a Lapidary
Shop. Both are looking forward to retirement in 1983 as "Snowbirds".
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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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