|
Burton P. Harrison, Jr.
BURTON P. HARRISON, JR.,
born March 12, 1923 in Highland Park,
Michigan, attended University of Detroit and
entered C.P.T. Unit, enlisted in Cadets June
1942. In August he joined class 43E at Santa
Anna, California. Commissioned May 20,
1943 he was assigned to train aerial gunners
at Las Vegas. After 11 months and 900 hours
in AT-6's, P-39's and B-17's. From there he
went to England for assignment in the ETO.
October 1944 at the 9th A.F., 134th Pool,
Paris, France he was assigned to 53rd Squadron, 36th Fighter Group reporting in
November at Louvain, Belgium. On his 15th
mission during the "Bulge" he was shot down
by 200mm flak strafing tank and trucks near
St. Vith. With damaged controls he flew back
to friendly lines and bailed out. Picked up by
an 82nd Airborne group he was back at the
group and flying in two days. In February
1945 he made 1st Lt. and got his own crew
and a new D-30 "bubble" jug. In the next
three months the group moved from Belgium
to Koblenz then to Kassel, Harrison with 50
missions was acting squadron leader on some
missions. When the war ended he had completed 65 missions. With the group on training missions Harrison requested school at
Shivenham, Englands' "GI." University.
Returning to the Group in October and no
assignment he came home on "points."
In December 1945 with help from his wife
Betty, whom he had married in June 1944,
he enrolled at Lawrence Institute of Technology to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering June 1948.
Employed by Giffels Associates, Inc.
before graduation he progressed from engineer to project director before leaving in
January 1959 to become Chief Engineer of
a smaller engineering firm. In 1972 his old
Company convinced him to return as Director of Industrial Engineering. He has
directed Industrial design on projects such as
14 Bulk Mail Centers for the Postal Department, automotive and foundry projects for
Ford, GM, Chrysler, Volvo, Caterpiller and
many other specials' like 200 ton shield doors
for the Tokamak Fusion project at Princeton,
New Jersey. As a principle of Giffels, one of
the largest A.E. firms in the United States he
anticipates future projects and company
growth. He is a member of N.S.P.E.,
M.S.P.E., A.S.M.E., AllE and a registered
Professional Engineer in 13 states.
|
Pilot Name
|
Biography Summary
|
|
John Abbotts
|
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.
|
|
Asa A. Adair
|
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.
|
|
Edward B. Addison
|
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.
|
|
Levon B. Agha-Zarian
|
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.
|
|
George N. Ahles
|
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.
|
|
Roy J. Aldritt
|
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.
|
|
Eugene J. Amaral
|
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.
|
|
Talmadge L. Ambrose
|
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.
|
|
John C. Anderson
|
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.
|
|
William Anderson
|
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.
|
|
|