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Robert G. Heiserman
ROBERT G. HEISERMAN, born
April 27, 1919 at West Union, Iowa. Graduated West Union High School 1936. Retail
Clothing salesman Schatz & Schatz Clothiers,
West Union, Iowa 1936 to 1941. Drafted
into U.S. Army Infantry 1941, transferred
Aviation Cadet and trained in class of 42I.
He received his wings and commission at
Spence Field, Moultrie, Ga. in October
1942. First assignment 53rd Fighter Group
14th Fighter Squadron, remained with this
squadron as an instructor in P-39's, P-40's,
P-47's and P-51's at Drew Field, Tampa,
Florida, Page Field, Fort Myers, Florida and
Venice Air Base, Venice, Florida until February 1945.
Transferred to Mediterreanean Theatre
assigned to 52nd Fighter Group, 5th Fighter
Squadron serving as Squadron Operations
Officer. Flying a total of 14 combat missions
in P-51 Fighters, mostly in escort of B-24
and B-25 bombers to Austria, Germany,
Yugoslavia and Brenner Pass. As the war
drew to a close he was also assigned strafing
missions to Northern Italy destroying railroad and highway traffic. He was awarded the
Air Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with 4
Bronze Stars, American Defense Service
Medal, American Theatre Campaign Medal
and World War II Victory Medal.
Released from active duty December 31,
1946, Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas as Captain.
Returned to civilian life entering Upper Iowa
University, graduating with Bachelor of Arts
Degree in 1949. Enrolled University of Pittsburgh and graduated May of 1950 with a
Master's Degree in Retailing. Buyer of Curtains and Draperies, Burdines Inc., Miami,
Florida 1950 to 1955. Buyer Curtains and
Draperies, Ed Schuster Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1955 to 1959. Merchandise
Manager Home Furnishing at Sibley, Lindsey & Curr, Rochester, New York 1959 to
1963, Merchandise Manager Home Furnishings, Rhodes Inc., Mountain View, California
and Portland, Oregon 1963 to 1967. Since
then owner of Turner County Motor Company, a Chevrolet dealership in Ashburn, Georgia.
He married Nancy Wardlow in 1944 and
has two children, Bob and Peggy.
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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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