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Geo Holcomb
GEO HOLCOMB, born July 29, 1922
and grew up in Elsmore; a small community
in Southeast, Kansas. Inducted into the
Army in November, 1942. He was assigned
to the 19th Infantry in Hawaii for basic
training and to the 34th Combat Engineers
for active duty. He was accepted as an Aviation Cadet at Hickam Field and returned to U.S. for Flight Training in April, 1943. He
graduated with Class 44 at Williams Field,
Arizona. Flew P-39's at Victorville and
Moses Lake, P-38's at Ontario and was
assigned to P-47's of the 59th Fighter Squadron in December, 1944. The 59th was guard squadron for "The Hump" and was stationed
at Nagaguli, India. Sat hot and cold alerts and
flew close support missions and road sweeps
during the Burma Campaigns. Assigned to
C-47's flying supply and administrative missions in India and Burma 1945 and 1946.
Gathered about 1000 hours half in C-47's;
an air medal, a caterpillar club membership
and 33 combat missions.
Mustered out of service in May, 1946.
Attended Kansas State College graduating in
1950 with a BSCE. Served as a non flying
engineer in the Air Force from December
1950 to May, 1952. He held positions as
City Engineer in various Kansas Communiites until 1967 when he formed Geo Holcomb Associates, a consulting engineering
firm. Holcomb served in the Air Force
Reserve, and the Kansas Air National Guard,
retiring in 1972. His interest in flying
revived in 1976. After 30 years without
wings he acquired and flew a BT -13 to
various shows around the United States and
Canada. Holcomb attended the 1979 gathering where he and another member of the 59th flew the BT-13 in the show at Chino.
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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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