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Norman M. Iverson
NORMAN M.IVERSON, born October 19, 1921, St. Paul, Minnesota; graduated White Bear High School, St. Paul suburb. Shortly thereafter entered Air Corps
Cadet Training; sent to Texas where he literally had a career as a "second born" Texan, being stationed at San Antonio, classification
and preflight, Uvalde, Texas, primary, Waco
Army Field basic, and Moore Field Mission,
Texas, graduating and commissioned a single
engine pilot.
Following graduation P40 training and
then the P47 , next to Harding Field, Louisiana, then to Strother Field, Winfield, Kansas, for P47 tactical training with the Second
Air Force; while at Strother Field sent for a
short training jaunt to Jug gunnery training
at Galveston, Texas, and then back to Strother Field and from there transferred to the 508th Fighter Group which was being
formed as an overseas replacement unit at
Bruning, Nebraska. The Group next sent to
Hawaii, being stationed at Kahuku Army Air
Field on the base of Kahuka. After training in
Hawaii he was sent with others as a replacement to the 318th Fighter Group stationed at Saipan in the Mariana's; the 318th Fighter
Group P47N were transferred to Ie Shima
where they flew escort for the big boys who
were in B29's, B24's and on occasions the
smaller bomber fleets and were also used for
skip bombing, dive bombing, strafing and
napalm, ground work along the China Coast,
Korea, Kyusha and Honshu.
He was awarded the distinguished flying
cross, air medal with three oak leaf clusters
and others returning to the States. He
remained on active duty and in 1946 was
sent to Randolph Field as an instructor teaching Chinese Cadets flight training and from there to Tyndil Field, Panama City, Florida,
where he went into the Mustang P51H
flying. His highest rank was Major of
U.S.A.F.R. Then with the birth of his first
son, he decided to retire from the service and
returned to civilian life December 20, 1946,
went back to school, receiving a Bachelor of
Arts Degree at Southwestern College, then to
Washburn University where he received his
Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree and has
practiced law since 1950 to the present time
and has two sons, lawyers, with him in his
professional association, known as Iverson &
Iverson, P.A.
Upon returning to inactive status he had
accumulated approximately 850 flying
hours, 20 combat missions and many sorties
and, of course, leaving behind him the usual
"hairy" experiences of strafing, skip bombing, dive bombing, Japanese air fields, river boats, railroad yards, bridges and oil fields.
He remained active with the Air Force
Reserves for several years and retired as a
Major in the Air Force Reserves.
He had been a life member of the P47
Thunderbolt Association since the early
1960's and is a member of the 318th Fighter
Group Association which was formed in
1977. He is married to the former Joline
Selan and they have five children, N.M. Jr.,
Randy, Rodney, Jody and Carol.
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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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