Robert H. Jones
ROBERT H. JONES, born December 26, 1923, in Iowa City, Iowa and was graduated from Iowa City High School in June 1942. He attended the State University of Iowa until entering the USAAF in February 1943. He received his pilots wings and commission at Aloe Army Airfield, Victoria,
Texas in March 1944 and was assigned to
P-47 training at Camp Springs AAB and to
weapons training at Millville, New Jersey. He
remained at Millville AAB as an instructor
pilot until March, 1945 when he was
assigned to the 9th AF, 371st Fighter Group,
404th Fighter Squadron at Metz, France. He
flew 18 missions before VE Day and
remained in the ETO with the occupation
forces as a fighter pilot and staff operations
officer with Headquarters XII tactical Air
Command, Bad Kessingen, Germany. He
accepted appointment to the Regular Army
as a 2nd Lt. in 1946.
After returning to the USA in 1947, he
was assigned to the 10th TAC Rescue Wing,
Pope AFB, North Carolina flying P-51's and
subsequently to the Air Defense Command as
an Operations Staff Officer and interceptor
(F-94) pilot. In 1953 he volunteered for
exchange duty with the U.S. Navy and joined
the 191st Fighter Squadron, checking out in
the FAF-6 cougar jet fighter and, after corner qualifications; deployed to the Far East and Sea of Japan aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34). While aboard, the movie "Bridges of Toko-Ri" was filmed. Before the cruise
ended in April, 1954, he had completed 61
corner landings and 59 catapult launches.
His subsequent career included tours of
duty as aide to camp to Major General
Acheson, professional education at Maxwell
AFB, Alabama, aircraft maintenance officer
at Andrews AFB, Chief of Maintenance at
Bien Hoa AB, RVN, squadron commander of
an OM5 in a 5AC B-58 Wing, Chief of
Maintenance of an F-100 Wing, Dep. Commander for Material of F-4 Fighter Wing,
and Director Logistics of the 4958th Test
Wing at WP AFB, Ohio.
He was retired on March 1, 1975, and
moved to Moitland, Florida and is now
employed as General Manager of a golf car
dealership.
He married Marjorie Flynn Ostberg whom
he met while stationed at Stewart AFB,
Newburgh, New York and they have two
daughters and one grandson so far.
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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