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Robert S. Johnson
ROBERT S. JOHNSON, born Feb.
21, 1920 in Lawton, Okla. Attended public
schools and Cameron J.C. at Lawton.
Received Students Pilot license in Feb.
1935. Completed the Civilian Pilot Training
program in 1939. Graduated from Cameron
and entered aviation cadets on Nov. 11,
1941, Class 42-F. First class to be at "Kelly
on the Hill", (Now known as Lackland),
proceeded to Sikeston, Mo., Randolph Field
and took bomber training at Kelly Field -
graduating in July, 1942 and proceeding to
Bridgeport, Conn., in late July joining the
61st Sqdn. of the 56th Ftr. Group - flying
Thunderbolts.
Arrived in England, Jan. 13, 1943. The
56th was briefly stationed at Peterbourgh -
then Horsham St. Faith and finally at Halesworth where it remained until early 1944 and then the group moved to Boxted near
Colchester where it remained to the end of
WWII.
97 missions later on May 8, 1944, credited with 28 enemy aircraft destroyed in
aerial combat.
Medals received: DSC - Silver Star - 9
DFCs - Purple Heart - 4 Air Medals -
British DFC -Belgium Croix de Guerre
with Palme - Pre Pearl Harbor, ATO and
ETO theatre medals and 3 Presidential group
Citations.
Returned to the U.S. on June 7,1944 and
toured the U.S., air bases, cities and industries and schools for two months with Dick Bong on bond sales.
Commanded an OTU at Abilene, Texas
from Sept. 1944 to the end of WWII.
Joined Republic Aviation, Nov. 1, 1945
for sales and flight test. Contract administrator for Republics space program, the F/RF84F programs and several others. Headed
the companies Customer Relations Dept.
Commanded a Reserve organization that
became the 514th Troop Carrier Group.
Then became Deputy Commander of the
26th Air Div. at Roslyn, NY whose responsibility was security of the East Coast from Maine to Wash D.C.
A member of the Section 5. Congressionally appointed AF Reserve and National Guard Committee. 1949 - through 1951. Visited
Korea as an observer for the USAF in late
1951 and sat in on the first 'Peace Meeting'
at Pan Mun Jam.
Submitted ideas, and worked on their
development to improve the cockpit and
performance of aircraft for the pilot. Among
these were the standardized cockpit; extension of our Coastal Radar warning by use of floating radar stations - later called picket
ships and Texas Towers; the idea that started
the development of the navigation system
now used in space flight.
Fourth and two term President of the
National Air Force Assoc., 1949-50 and
1950-51. Helped organize and run the first
P-47 meeting while at Republic in May,
1961. Second President of the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Assoc. Lifetime Board member of both these organizations. On the Board of
Directors of the St. George Golf and Country
Club at Stony Brook. NY. Member of the
ACE Assoc. - Daedalians. QBs - Mason.
32 Degree and Shriner.
Married to Barbara Ellen Morgan on Feb.21,1942.
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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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