Roy J. Aldritt
ROY J. ALLDRITT, Bozeman, Montana, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940. After a few months of flight line experience helping crew B.18's and B.17's he attended a six months aircraft maintenance training school at Chanute
Field, Ill. After graduation he became a flight engineer/gunner on B.26's until a crash on take-off convinced him that if he was to continue flying he should be the pilot.
He applied for aviation cadet training and trained at Kelly, Santa Ana, Rankin, Lemoore and Luke Field, graduating in Class 43-E. First assignment was with the 377th Ftr Sqdn, 362nd Grp at Windsor Locks, Conn. flying P-47C's. After 6 months of training and East Coast defense duties the group departed for Wormingford, England in Nov. '43.
After 30 missions flying escort for the Heavies (8th AF), Alldritt was temporarily asslgned to a special unit to help develop and standardize dive bombing procedures for fighter aircraft. The unit disbanded after the C.O. lost a wing off of his P-5l during a high 'G' pull out. Alldritt then joined the 390th Ftr Sqdn, 366th Grp, 9th AF. The remainder of his combat tour consisted of destroying enemy supply routes,bunkers, bridges, vehicles, tanks, artillery and providing
close support for the 2nd armored division.
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.
After finishing his combat tour he was assigned to the 29th Tactical Air Command . Hdq Flight. This unit consisted of one or more of
each American fighter plane in the ETO plus a few flyable German planes that 1 had flown in and surrendered. This was most interesting assignment and allowed him to fly and test all of the aircraft assigned. After the war he returned to civilian life and married Irene Paulsen; they have two children, a son (R.J) and a daughter (Roiann). He continued to fly in the reserves and was recalled at the offset of the Korean War.
After 3 years in the training command teaching students how to fly jet fighters he once again
got into the fighter bomber business with the F-86-F . He had a 4 year tour in Germany which included a transition into reconnaissance. Flying the Republic FR-84-F was similar to the "Jug", it was heavy and used a lot of runway but a joy to fly and very dependable.
After Germany he was assigned to the strategic air command for a 4 year tour of flying KC-135 tankers, followed by 3 years of operation staff work in the Pacific Air Force Command dealing with the Vietnam situation. He retired in
1967, joined the Boeing Company and has since devoted his outside activity to Porsche cars and skiing.
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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