Ray Ilich
RAY ILICH, born February 2, 1924,
near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Enlisted as an
aviation Cadet shortly after graduation from
High School. Graduated and commissioned
at Craig Field, Selma, Alabama in class of
43-I. First combat assignment in early 1944
with the 346th Fighter Squadron, 350th
Fighter Group. He was based at Caguari
Sadenia, flying P-39's. He flew anti-sub
patrol protecting ship convoys in the Mediterrarian Sea, while moving up the west coast of Italy behind the 5th Army advances. The
346th was re-equipped with P-47's and the
mission changed to interdiction in support of
"operation strangle" and the 5th Army. He
flew 102 missions destroying ammunition
depots, power stations, bridges, trains, tunnels, and railways. Awarded the Air Medal
with 4 clusters. Returned to the U.S. in early
1945. He flew as an advanced flight instructor, single engine for a period, then flew P-51's as a reconnaissance pilot. He was a
member of the 8th fighter group flying
P-51's at Itazuke, Japan in 1949. At the
outbreak of the Korean War he was a senior
controller, Air Operations Center at Itazuke,
Mission Air Defense. In 1953 he was senior
air controller for HQ Task Group 7-4 based
at Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was responsible for the safe and precise positioning of
aircraft participating in the U.S. Atomic
Bomb Tests throughout 3 Pacific operations
and 2 at the Nevada test site.
He retired from the Air Force in September, 1963. Employed by the FAA for the last decade in the flight service station option. He
remains a licensed pilot holding a commercial
single-multi engine rating with instruments.
He also holds flight instructor rating. He
married Alice Clouser in 1946 and has one
son, Jeff.
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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