Michael C. Horgan
MICHAEL C. HORGAN, born
August 13, 1919 and graduated from Fairmont, Minnesota High School in 1936.
Drafted into the U.S. Army, he was inducted
January 12, 1942. Entering Aviation Cadet
training in January 1943, he graduated from
Single Engine Advance at Dothan, Alabama,
Class of 43G. Following graduation, he
served briefly with the 36th Fighter Group
before joining the 366th Fighter Group then
in ORT status at Wilmington, North Carolina. Arriving in England with the 366th, he flew 106 missions in the P-47. His squadron,
the 390th, along with the Group were heavily involved in the D-Day invasion of France followed by a landing on the beach head on
D+ 6. Captain Horgan was credited with two
E.A. destroyed and was awarded the DFC and
the Air Medal with 2 OLC for his tour.
Deciding upon a career in the USAF, the
ensuing years were spent with several units in
several areas of the globe. Two tours in the
Pacific totaling six years, a second tour in
Europe (four years) and association with the
20th F.G., 49th F.G., 20th TFW, 4th TFW,
355 TFW, 1st Special Operations Wing,
Eglin Fighter Test Squadron, Headquarters,
Pacific Air Forces and Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia. These assignments provided him with the opportunities to
fly nearly all USAF operational fighters
through the F-105, along with the Russian
YAK-9 and MIG-15. In addition to WWII, he
flew 132 combat missions in Korea and as
Commander, 355th TFW, 115 combat missions out of Takhli, Thailand in the F-105
Thud. Out of this he accrued 6000 + hours
in fighter aircraft -with an especially fond
4-500 hours in the beloved Jug.
Colonel Horgan retired as Commander, 1st
Special Ops Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida
on 1 April 1973 with 31 years service. His
awards include Legion of Merit w /2 stars,
DFC w /2 clusters and Air Medal 2/ 42 OLC.
He entered University of West Florida and
received his BS in Business Administration in
1975. He is currently Executive Director of
the Fort Walton Beach, Florida Housing
Authority.
He is married to the former Joan Lehrer,
Springfield, Minnesota and they are the
proud parents of eight children.
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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