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John V. Jordan
JOHN V. JORDAN, born August 26,1923, at Renssalaer, Indiana. Before he
could start a career, Pearl Harbor occurred.
He enlisted in 1942 and started pilot training
with class 43-J. Due to illness, he was dropped
back and graduated with class 44-A at Aloe
Field, Victoria, Texas. After completion of all
required training in the Thunderbolt, he was
assigned combat duties with the 86th Fighter
Group, 525th Squadron in Italy. The 86th
was equipped with the A-36, "Invader" (P-51A with dive flaps) in support of "Operation Strangle." After completion of nine
combat missions in the A-36, never learning
how to start or stop it, his unit was re-equipped with the Thunderbolt. He flew another 100 missions in the P-47 from fields
in Italy, Corsica, France, and Germany
before returning home. His efforts earned
him the DFC, Air Medal with 5 clusters,
Purple Heart, ETO Ribbon with 6 stars,
Presidential Citation, and membership in the
"Caterpillar Club."
Discharged in 1945, he entered Purdue
University, majoring in Agriculture. After
completing his studies, he was involved in
Agriculture until ordered back to active duty
and the cockpit for the Korean Conflict.
When separation time came, he elected to
remain with thee U.S. Air Force until retirement. During this portion of his career, he
flew nearly all of the fighters and several
transports in the Air Force inventory, including jets. His later years were spent with
Balistic Missiles, being launch certified on
the Thor, Atlas, Titan II, and Minuteman
Missiles. He retired from active duty in 1970
with the rank of Colonel and many fond
memories.
Since retirement from the Air Force he has
remained active in the agricultural field. He
is a life member of the Thunderbolt Pilots
Association. While attending Purdue University he met and married Margaret Welsh.
They are the proud parents of two daughters,
Cinda and Sally.
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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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