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James W. Harding
JAMES W. "BILL" HARDING,
born - August 17,1921. Education: High
School Grad: Entered Tri State University
1939, majored in Aeronautical Engineering.
Sworn in Army Air Corps while in college
right after Pearl Harbor, but not officially
called up for Cadet training until June 1942.
Graduated from Victoria, Texas class 43-B.
Family Data: Married March 1941 to the
former Ann Shelling and over the years
managed to raise four children, two boys and
two girls. (Bunch of grandchildren)
Military: After graduation from Victoria I
was assigned to the Eastern Procurement
Command and sent to Republic Aviation in
Amityville, L.I. as a test pilot for the Air
Corps. Here I put in some 1000 hours in the
beloved Jug. With the exception of a few
minor hair raising incidents everything made
the landing pattern. Part of my duties was to
instruct the gals in the Ferry Command the
art of flying the Jug and that was fun and
games. Another note of interest was trying to
instruct some Russian pilots the do's and
don'ts of P-47 flying. Their job was to ferry
the planes from Alaska across the straights.
Unfortunately our lack of communication
failed to make many Aces of them, as I later
heard that many never completed the trip.
Unhappily my tour of duty at Republic after
two years came to an end in Feb. 1945 when
I was transferred to Curtis Wright in Buffalo,
N.Y. to push C-46's around. Towards the end
of the war, when production ceased on the
46's we had the duty of flying Wac's from
Buffalo to their separation center in Dallas,
Texas. More fun and games, pleasant way of
ending a long war.
Discharged Dec. 1945, rank 1st Lt. Following discharge entered the field of Insurance and have been connected with same
ever since. Lost my wingman in Oct. 1972,
have since remarried and work and live
happily in beautiful Fla.
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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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