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Jack La Grange, Jr.
JACK LA GRANGE,JR., USAFR
(Ret), 442-12-5899. DATE OF RANK: 4
February 1977. CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:
Brigadier General, USAF Reserve (Retired).
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Apache,
Oklahoma, 10 November 1919. SCHOOLS:
Cameron State College, 1939; Blackwood-Davis Business College 1940; OCS, 1942;
Pilot Training, 1943; BS San Francisco
College of Mortuary Science, 1946; Reserve
Officer Orientation Course, 1964; Jet Qualification Course, 1955; USAF Commanders'
Seminar, 1971 and 1975; Air Power Seminar, 1976; Defense Strategy Seminar, 1977;
Air Reserve Forces Supplemental Program,
Theater Air Warfare, 1977; USAFR Senior
Officer PME, General Purpose Forces,
1979; Soviet Military Power Week, 1979.
General La Grange began his military
service by enlisting as a private in Hqs.
Special Troops, 45th Infantry Division,
Oklahoma National Guard in June 1940. He
was called to active duty in September 1940
with the 45th Division. In December 1942
he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, ordnance, and ordered to the Sixth Motorized
Division, Yuma, Arizona. He was transferred
immediately to pilot training. He received his
wings and was assigned to the 78th Fighter
Group, Eighth Air Force, European Theater
of Operations, being promoted to 1st Lieutenant in June 1944. He flew 52 combat
missions (P-47) in the European Theater and
shot down six enemy aircraft. He was a
German Prisoner of War from 15 October
1944 to 29 April 1945. In December 1945
he was relieved from active duty and in April
1950 he was promoted to Captain and
assigned to Hqs., Nevada Air NG. He was
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1953. General La Grange received
Federal Recognition as Brigadier General on
5 December 1955 and appointed Assistant
Adjutant General for Air, on the same date.
On 4 March 1971 he vacated the tenure of
office position as Assistant Adjutant General
for Air and was re-appointed as Colonel on 5
March 1971. General La Grange served as
Special Assistant to the Commander, 152d
Tactical Reconnaissance Group until 1 July
1973, when he was reassigned as Commander
of the 152d Combat Support Squadron,
Nevada Air National Guard. On 1 October
1976 he was appointed as the Assistant
Adjutant General Air, Headquarters Nevada
Air National Guard and retired on 8 November1979.
DECORATIONS AND A WARDS: Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with three Stars; Victory Medal; American
Campaign Medal; Air Force Longevity Service Award; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with
Two Hour Glass Devices; American Defense
Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award;
Good Conduct Medal.
CIVIC AFFILIATIONS: Masons; Scottish
Rite; Shrine; Veterans of Foreign Wars;
American Legion; Eagles; Air Force Association; National Guard Association; Military
Order of the World Wars; Daedalians; Royal
Arch Masons; BPOE.
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION: Retired
RATING: Command Pilot
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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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