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Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
H.R.H. PRINCE BERNHARD OF THE NETHERLANDS
H.R.H. The Prince of the Netherlands (Bernhard Leopold Frederik Everhard Julius Coert Karel Godfried Pieter) Prince zur Lippe-Biesterfeld, G.C.B., G.C. V .0., G.B.E. and is a Life Member of the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association.
After the German invasion of Holland in May 1940, he evacuated family to England and returned to the Continent with army until the fall of France. He returned to England and qualified all a pilot in 1941; appointed Hon. Air Commodore R.A.F. V.R. 1941; subsequently Chief Netherlands Liaison Officer with British Forces, later Major-Gen. and Chief of Netherlands Mission to War Office; visited war fronts in North Africa and Normandy, maintained liaison throughout the war between Netherlands Underground and the Allied
Govts.
As Supreme Commander, he flew P-47 Thunderbolts in the Netherlands Armed Forces 1944 and played important part in liberation of Netherlands; decorated for his services in this operation by H. M. Queen Wilhelminia
(M.W.O.) and by H. M. King George VI (G.B.E.); resigned Sept. 1945 from office of Supreme Commander; subsequently appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff; ret. 1976: memo Council for Mil. Affairs of the Realm, and memo Joint
Defense, Army, Admirality and Air Force Councils; Inspector-Gen. of Netherlands Armed Forces; Admiral, General (Army) General R. Neth. A.F. 1954 ret. 197t at the age of 65; Hon. Air Marshal R.A.F. 1964 Hon. Commodore R. New Zealand A.F.
He is President World Wildlife Fund, Netherlands; Hon. member Royal Aeronautical Society Royal Institute Naval Architects, Aeromedica Society,
Royal Spanish Academy; Hon. degree State University, Utrecht (law) 1946;
Delft University of Technology (Technical Science. 1951; University of
Montreal (Law) 1958; University of British Columbia (Law) 1958; University of Michigan (Legal Sciences) 1965; Free University of Amsterdam (Economics) 1965; University
of Basel (Natural Science) 1971, plus many decorations and honorary functions.
His recreation and hobbies are: golf, skiing, filming and photography. The Prince resides at Soestdijk Palace, Baarn, The Netherlands.
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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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