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James A. Gustafson
JAMES A. GUSTAFSON, born July
24, 1924 near Clarion, Pennsylvania and
graduated Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Radio/Television
Speech in 1947 and a Master's Degree in
1952. After Pearl Harbor and one year at
Penn State University, he enlisted as an
Aviation Cadet in 1943 and trained in class
of 44-G, graduating and commissioned at
Craig Field, Selma, Alabama. After graduation, gunnery training at Eglin Field, Florida
plus P-40 transitional training. First assignment was 1st Air Force Eastern Defense
Command. Introduced to the P-47 at Camp
Springs, Maryland in October 1944. Subsequent assignments included Millville Army
Air Base (New Jersey), Shaw Field (South
Carolina), Dover Army Air Base (Delaware)
and Merced Army Air Field (California)
until discharge in October 1945 -one year
flying the "Jug!"
Released from active duty as a Second
Lieutenant in October 1945 at Patterson
Field, Ohio he returned to school at Ohio
State University receiving his BA Degree in
Radio/Television Speech in 1947 ("summa
cum laude") and MA Degree in 1952.
Between degrees he served on the faculty at
Ohio State and worked as a radio announcer
doing play-by-play sports, news and disc jockeying as well as Program Director at various
radio stations in Wisconsin, New York and
Pennsylvania. Since 1952 he has worked in
Washington, D.C. radio and television as
announcer and in sales management. Part
owner of a radio station since sold, he joined
WTTG-TV (Metromedia) in January 1958
and has been with the same television station
in various sales and sales management positions ever since. He has also held the position
of Professorial Lecturer at American University teaching a Broadcast Management
course and for a number of years was a
weekend ski instructor at various ski areas in
Pennsylvania.
He married Virginia Bollogh in 1946; has
three children (Steve, Ron and Lee Ann) plus
four grandchildren; and, has lived in Potomac, Maryland since 1961. Member of the
P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association who
attended the first reunion in Farmingdale in
1961.
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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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