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Rui Moreira Lima
RUI MOREIRA LIMA, born June
12, 1919 in Brazil. In 1939 enlisted as
Aviation Cadet, graduated in 1942 and was
commissioned at Air University as flight
instructor. In 1943 I went to Salvador,
Bahia, to fly P-40-M and Hudson in the
South Atlantic anti-submarine war. In March
1944 I volunteered to fly in Italy in the
Brazilian Expeditionary Force. I trained in
Aguadulce, Panama, as fighter pilot and was
assigned for Canal Defense. In July I flew 67
hours in P-47 at Suffolk, Long Island. On
October 7, I arrived in Tarquinia, Italy, with
the 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron under the
operation control of 350th Fighter Group.
Started on combat missions in November 6
and flew 94 missions, destroying supply
routes, ammunition depots, bridges, railroads
and one Italian fighter Macchi 202 on the
ground. I made close support attacks on tanks
(destroyed 5). I was hit by a 20mm 9 times
and had one belly landing in Forli, A-20
Polish Base in Paco Valley with the Thunderbolt on fire. I received the Distinguished
Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Clusters,
Croix de Guerre Avec Palme, France, from
Brazil, Combat Cross and South Atlantic
Cross for patrol and convoy cover in South
Atlantic and Combat Cross with 3 Clusters
for missions in Mediterranean.
The US 12th Air Force said about the 1st
Brazilian Fighter Group: "Between the 6th
and the 22nd of April 1945 the Brazilian
Fighter Unit took part in 5% of the missions
accomplished by the 22nd ATC, destroying
15% of the vehicles, 28% of the bridges,
36% of the damaged fuel depots and 85% of
ammunition depots."
I retired as a Colonel in 1964 and started
2 private enterprises, one dealing with the
stock market and the other with tourism.
I and other 8 Brazilian pilots introduced
jet planes in Brazil in 1953. I flew 1976
hours in the 760 Thunderbolt, 136 in P-40
and 580 in Gloster. My total flight hours
were 7,600 in other planes such as C-47 ,
Viscount, C-82, etc.
I married Julinha in 1943. My first daughter, Sonia, was born while I was in Italy.
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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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