Lynn H. Hosford, Jr.
LYNN H.HOSFORD, JR., born
January 1, 1922 at Chardon, Ohio. Graduated (salutatorian) from Chardon High
School 1940 and attended The Ohio State
University (engineering) 1941-1942.
Enlisted as an Aviation Cadet 1942 and
received commission and pilot's wings in
USAAF, Class 43-J, Trained in P-47 RTU
and assigned to 78th Fighter Group, 82nd
Fighter Squadron, Duxford, England, April
1944. Completed combat tour of 80 missions
(297 hours) damaging/destroying ground
targets while participating in the air offensive
of Europe. Graduated USAAF Fighter Gunnery School and served as instructor pilot in the P-47 (D&N models) acquiring a total of
720 hours in this fighter. Discharged from
the USAAF to the active Air Reserve March,
1946.
Attended Hiram College (chemistry) until
accepting regular commission in the United
States Air Force November 1947. Graduated
Class 48-A of the Air Tactical School and
from the Air University Instructor Course
April 1948. From 1948 to 1969 served in
various operations staff and command positions which primarily were: Assistant Chief, Air Defense, 20th Air Force, Okinawa; Commander, 738th AC&W Squadron, Olathe Naval Air Station, Kansas; assignment to the
USAF-RAF Exchange Program serving with
Royal Air Force Fighter Command, England;
Chief, Combat Operations Center, 65th Air
Division (SAC) Torrejon Air Base, Madrid,
Spain; Chief, Surveillance Branch, Environment Division, Directorate of Tactics and Systems Training, DCS Operations, Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command, Colorado; Commander, TUSLOG Detachment 8,
Diyarbakir, Turkey; Chief of Operations,
73rd Aerospace Surveillance Wing, Tyndall
AFB, Florida.
Received senior and command pilot's
wings while flying various conventional and
jet fighter aircraft of the USAF and the RAF.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,
Meritorious Service Medal, four Air Medals,
Commendation Ribbon and various service
and theatre ribbons. Retired from the United
States Air Force in August, 1969 in the
permanent grade of Lt. Colonel. Graduated
1973 from the University of Idaho with a
Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in
history and language.
Married Miss Margaret Prekler in November, 1943. Their two daughters and a son are Kathe, Jennifer and Daniel.
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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