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Francis E. Madore
FRANCIS E. MADORE, born Nov.
16, 1921, in Flint, Mich. Enlisted Reserve
June 1942 and called to active duty as an
Aviation Cadet in Nov. 1942. Went through
San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center and went
to preflight there. I took Primary flight
training at Vernon, Texas; Basic at Enid,
Oklahoma; and Advance at Victoria, Texas.
Graduated there as single engine fighter pilot
Class of 43-H. Sent to Richmond, Virginia to
fly P-47s with the 371st Fighter Group
406th Fighter Squadron, Capt. Taylor
Squadron Commander. Then, Camp Springs,
Washington D.C. for fighter and gunnery
training. Went overseas in Feb., 1944 on the
Mauretania, then to Ringwood, England, 9th
Air Force. Flew Sorties consisting of fighter
sweeps, strafing and dive-bombing and some
escort for the 8th Air Force. We were in on
the first 1000 bomber raid on Berlin and
supposed to rendezvous with the bombers on
the way back, but never did find them -
they were late. We had to return home
because of low fuel. That was the longest
mission I was ever on, about 4 hours. Incidently, I had a wrinkle in my dinghy and
before I got back it felt like I was sitting on a
hot stove.
We escorted gliders on D Day to St. Mere
Eglise and did some dive bombing and strafing on the beach on gun emplacements. We
landed at St. Mere Eglise on D-Day+4, and
moved there permanently about June 12. We
slept in pup tents and at that time some of our
missions took only about 20 minutes to
complete, they were that close to the field.
We could see our planes going into their
dive-bomb runs. We followed Gen. Patton
after the breakthrough at St. Lo and sometimes he would be 30 miles farther than
where we were to rendezvous with his
armored spearhead. We moved to St. Dizier,
France in August, then to Dijon, then to
Tantonville. It was cold there. Our runway
was pierced plank, downhill and snow. I got
my orders to come home in January, 1945.
When I left I had 4 planes to my credit, 2
damaged and 1 probable, 103 missions; the
DFC Air Medal with 17 Oak Leaf Clusters, an
ETO ribbon with 5 battle stars.
After coming home, I was sent to Santa
Ana Air Base for reassignment. Then back to
Perrin Field Sherman, Texas, as pilot instructor. Then to Lubbock, Texas for instrument
pilot instructor school, and back to Perrin
Field where I instructed Chinese, Philippinos, Equadorians, and Arabs. Was separated
from active duty in Dec., 1945.
I married my wife in 1946 and have 8
children, 5 boys and 3 girls, and am very
proud of all of them. We have 12 grandchildren now and are expecting our 13th in Dec.,1980. Flying the P-47 was one of the highlights in my life and I thank God for bringing
me home safe and sound and blessing me with
a good family and good health.
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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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