George N. Gundersdorf, Jr
GEORGE N. GUNDERSDORF,JR., ("GUNDY") born March 18, 1918 in
Baltimore, Maryland, graduated from the
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and then
worked for the Baltimore Gas and Electric
Co. until Pearl Harbor. Enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Corps, 1942, graduated and commissioned in Class of 43A at Marianna, Florida. Assigned to the 321st Fighter Squadron,
326th Fighter Group at Westover Field,
Mass. in January, 1943. During period with
the 321st Fighter Squadron, he was made an
instructor in checking out trainee pilots in
the arts of flying the Thunderbolt at both,
Westover and Seymour Johnson Field until
November 1944. Assigned to the 1st Fighter
Squadron, 413th Fighter Group at Bluethenthal Field, North Carolina staging for overseas assignment. The 413th Fighter Group
shipped to Guam courtesy the U.S. Navy, on
the aircraft carrier S.S. Kwajalein in April
1945. Equipped with the latest model of
Thunderbolts, P-47N, the 413th moved on
to Saipan, Tinian and Ie Shima (Okinawa).
Capt. Gundersdorf flew 8 CAP's and 14
missions until the capitulation of Japan.
Missions consisted of bomber escort, rocket
and dive bombing, fighter sweeps and
napalming targets on Kyushu ahd Honshu,
Japan. He was awarded the Air Medal with 14
Cluster and the A.P Theatre ribbon with 4
Bronze Campaign Stars. A total of 970 flying
hours was recorded by Gundersdorf in the
P-47 Thunderbolt during his service years.
Released from the Air Force in January
1946, as a Captain, he returned to New
England and founded the Pioneer Tool Supply Co. of Springfield, Mass. He now serves as
President of both Pioneer Tool Supply Co.
and Pioneer Precision Grinding Co. located
in West Springfield, Mass.
"Gundy" is a charter member of the P-47
Thunderbolt Pilots Association. He resides at
Whitegate Farm, Goshen, New Hampshire
with his wife Anne, whom he married in
1943. They have two children, John and
Jessica.
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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