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McLoyd M. Hollowell
McLOYD M. HOLLOWELL, born
May 31, 1925 in Paris, Arkansas. Graduated
from Santa Ana, California high school in
1941. Worked as machinist for consolidated
Aircraft Corporation until quitting in 1943
to enlist in Aviation Cadets. Graduated 2nd
Lt. (class 44-F) from Luke Field three weeks
after his older brother (Mourice class 42-X)
was killed in action on a fighter sweep over
Normandy on D-Day 1944-1945. Aircraft
Maintenance Officer (AT-6). Flight Engineer School (B-29) Combat Crew Training
(B-29). Developed first engine conditioning
procedures. Assigned to base P-51 detachment. He was airborne on his first flight in a fighter one hour after his assignment using
normal checkout procedures. i.e. A lieutenant strapped him in, started the engine, tapped him on the shoulder and said "you got
it", 1946-49, 15th Fighter Group (P-51)
later changed to 81st Fighter Group
(P-51 - P47-N) flew first flight in Jug on August 17, 1946 and eventually logged 840 hours in the
P47-N. Flight Commander and Aircraft
Maintenance Officer. Periodic Group high
scorer in air to air gunnery. Initiated formation aerobatics. Flew several single ship performances in air shows. His only acknowledged trouble with the Jug was when he blew
dust with his wingtips while performing low
level aerobatics which qualified him for the
104 AW and a ninety day assignment to a
radar site. 1949-50, 81st Fighter Group
(F80A - F86A) Acting Group Operations
Officer Airborne Radar School. 1950-52,
319th F.I.S. (A W) (F94A-F94B) Senior
Pilot, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Korea
(101 combat hours), Air Medal, Training
Officer for replacement crews, Japan (Flight
Test Maintenance Officer to correct and
improve maintenance procedures for all
Lockheed aircraft operating in Korea).
1953-56, USAF Instrument School, USAF
Advance Flying School (F86 D), Flight Commander USAF Advance Flying School
(F86D), Air Training Command Flight Test
Project Officer (F86L), member Perrin
Rocket Team, Runner-up Air Training Command Instructor of the year (1954), Flew
single ship demonstration (F86D) in air
shows. 1955-58, 54th Fighter Group Group
Operations Officer, Ferried T-33 across the
north Atlantic to Portugal, set rocket firing
record at Yuma. 1958-59, H.Q. 30th Air
Division, Operations Exercise and Analysis
Officer. Command Pilot attached to 1st
Fighter Group (F86L), 18th Fighter Group
(F102) and 319thF.I.S. (F89J) for flying.
1959.60, 449th F.I.S. (F89J.F101B),
Flight Commander and Squadron Training
Officer 1960. H.Q. 11th Air Division,
Project Officer to transfer Ladd A.F.B. to
U.S. Army. 1960-63, Eielson A.F.B., Base
Operations Officer to include Search and
Rescue for northern Alaska. Formed and led
formation demonstration team in air shows.
Retired August 1963.
Planning on retiring in Alaska, he had
homesteaded 160 acres in 1959 and has also
accumulated other properties during the
interim. He taught instrument flying for the
airlines, taught at a flying school, worked as
an aircraft mechanic and finally in vehicle
maintenance with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the U.S. Air Force. He
resigned his position as Heavy Equipment
Maintenance Foreman in July, 1979 to
devote his time to developing his properties,
golfing and reunions.
He is divorced. Has four children and ten
grandchildren.
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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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