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Thompson D. Litchfield
THOMPSON D. LITCHFIELD,
born September 20,1918 in Aurora, N.C. A
graduate of Aurora High School and a graduate of Oak Ridge Military Institute. Litchfield joined the Flying Cadets in April of
1941 and graduated from Gulf Coast Schools
of Cuero, Texas, Randolph Field, Texas and
Foster Field, Texas in the class of 42-A. He
was assigned to the 20th Pursuit Group at
Myrtle Beach, S.C. in January of '42 flying
P-39's. In March of 1942, he was assigned to
the 52nd Fighter Group in Charlotte, N.C.
and went to England with this group in May
of 1942. There was a tremendous shortage of
American combat planes at this time and the
pilots of the 52nd Flying Group trained with
the RAF and were equipped with Spitfires.
Litchfield flew combat missions out of
England from June through October of '42.
In November of 1942, he participated in the
invasion of Africa and during the African
campaign, completed some over 100 combat
missions.
Litchfield returned to the United States in
August of 1943 and was assigned to the
training command in Florida as a combat
instructor. In December of 1943, Litchfield
was transferred to the 48th Fighter Bomber
Group in Tullahoma, Tenn. and subsequently went back to England in March of 1944
and flew P-47's with the 48th. On May 20,
1944, while on a dive bombing mission
attacking V-1 launching ramps, he was shot
down and captured. He spent the next three
months in German hospitals and was eventually sent to Stalag III in Sagan, Germany. He
was liberated from a prison camp in Mooseburg, Germany in May of '45 and was
returned to the U.S. shortly thereafter and
discharged from the Air Force, January 8,1946.
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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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