Frederick H. Le Febre
FREDERICK H. LE FEBRE Colonel born on July 17, 1919 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. After attending Calvin
College in that city, he entered Aviation
Cadet training in 1941 and was assigned to a
Fighter Squadron upon graduation in 1942,
flying P40 aircraft in various locations on
the East Coast. He was one of the original
members of the 351st Squadron, 353
Fighter Group when it was formed at Norfolk, Virginia, which later moved to Milville, New Jersey. He started to fly P47 aircraft in the winter of 1942/43. With the 351st Squadron, he went to England in
June, 1943, where he flew two combat
tours totaling 119 missions from Fighter
Stations at Metfield and Raydon, England
during the period of June 1943 to February
1945. During that time, he became the
Squadron Commander. He was credited with
destroying three enemy aircraft in the air
and numerous trains and military vehicles
while on interdiction and ground support
missions. He also participated in some of the
first dive bombing missions by P47s in
Europe.
After the war, Col. Le Febre stayed in the
Air Force. He transitioned from prop to jet
fighters (P-8Os) in Germany during the
summer of 1946. He flew a combat tour in
F86 "Sabre" aircraft in Korea in 1952-53
and continued flying, primarily jet fighters
until his Air Force retirement in 1970.
During his military career, Col. Le Febre
was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf
Clusters, the Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf
Clusters along with various other awards.
Of the many fighter planes he flew, which
in addition to the P47 included such planes
as the P40, P51, P8O, T33, F86, F1O1,
F102 and the Mach 2 F106, he says the
sentimental favorite is the faithful old Jug.
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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