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Carl A. Iavelli
CARL A. IAVELLI, born at Poway
San Diego County, Calif. Feb. 3, 1920 to
grape growing, wine manufacturing parents.
Graduated from Escondido High in 1937
followed by an air Conditioning Refrigeration Trade School. In 1939 leased his father's vineyard and winery along with
other vineyards and farm land and also did
custom tractor work and hauling. Married
Elda Valpreda in 1942 and in 1946 and 49
had two children, Carl D. and Lucille.
Enlisted as an aviation Cadet in 1942,
graduated and Commissioned Class 44E, Foster Field Victoria, Texas. Assigned 86th Group 527 Fighter Squadron, Pisa, Italy.
Flew dive bombing and strafing missions in
the Po Valley and Brenner Pass; destroying
railroads, locomotives freight cars, bridges,
trucks, ammunition depots, anti aircraft gun
batteries etc. Also close support for our
soldiers at the front lines in the Appenine
Mountains. Was shot down by 20 and 40
Millimeter Antiaircraft on my 14th mission
over the airfield at Milano on January 20,
1945. With the engine dead, plane on fire
and no visibility I bailed out and was later told
by the German Captain at an altitude of 50 to
75 meter. I remember only 1 1/2 swings of the
chute before hitting the snow on heels and
back in a vacant lot and was immediately
captured by 2 German Soldiers. On Jan. 23
started the trip to Germany by Army truck
and was strafed by 2 Thunderbolts the first
morning, 2 passes each, wounding my guard,
and finished the trip by bus and train at night.
Was a P.O.W. at Stalag VII A, Nuremberg,
Germany with a march to Moosberg to keep
ahead of our advancing army, liberated at
end of War and repatriated to Le Havre,
France.
Released from active duty as a 1st Lieutenant Dec. 18, 1945 and awarded the Air Medal.
Returned to a career of Lath and Plaster
Contracting as well as other sales and Contracting to the building industry. Sold out in
1971 and have since been building custom
homes and estimating and advising for others.
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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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