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Millard U. Hodges
MILLARD U. "MIL" HODGES,
born January 1, 1920 near Sallisaw, Oklahoma and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age
of 10. He graduated from the University of
the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts
degree.
Prior to Pearl Harbor, Mil enlisted in the
Army Air Corps and entered Aviation Cadet
training in 1942, graduating and commissioned in class 43B at Foster Field, Victoria,
Texas. His first assignment was P-40 and
P-47 flying with the 327th Fighter Group,
and subsequent assignment to the newly-
formed 358th Fighter Group, 367th Fighter
Squadron (P-47), Richmond Army Air Base,
Virginia, as a charter member. During pre-deployment tactical training, Mil acquired considerable P-47 time, but met with an
unfortunate accident which put him in the
hospital for five months. During this time the
358th Fighter Group, 355th Fighter Squadron (Pioneer Mustang Group) then in
France. He flew with the 354th (P-51, P-47)
until the end of WWII.
After WWII, with a Regular Commission,
Mil remained in the Air Force and retired in
1964 as a Lt. Col. and command Pilot.
During this time he remained in jet fighter
operations and command, completing a tour
in the Korean Conflict with the 49th Tactical Fighter Group, 8th Squadron
(F-80). His jet fighter experience includes F-80, F-84,F-86 and F-100 aircraft, mostly in the Tactical Air Command. After graduating from Command and Staff College in 1955, Mil was
assigned the JUSMAG Philippines as jet advisor to initially transition the Philippine Air
Force into T-33 and F-86F aircraft. His
efforts earned him the title of "Father of the
Philippine JET Air Force". During his duty
with tactical units, he made eleven ocean
crossings (air refueling) in jet fighter aircraft, and at retirement was Commander of
the 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 474th
Group (F-100), Cannon AFB, Clovis, New
Mexico.
Mil's fighter time is 5,000 hours, 1,000 in
P-47's. He flew 162 combat missions, and his
awards include the AF Commendation Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (3 OLC), Air Medal (13 OLC) and many service and foreign medals, awards, commendations and decorations. Among his foreign awards are
Belgian Wings, Republic of China Wings, and
the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citation.
Mil's post-military retirement years were
spent with American Airlines in the Flight
Training Department.
In 1943 Mil married Bessie Bea Bryant of
Vinita, Oklahoma. They have four children;
Joyce, Jane, Patricia and Richard.
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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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