Malcolm G. Beverly
Malcolm G. Beverly, born February 8, 1923 in Toronto, Canada, graduated from Technical School in 1941 and worked with an engineering firm for 6 months before joining the RCAF.
Obtained his pilot's wings in August, 1942. Flew
Hawker Hurricanes in Canada and England before going to India where he served for a short time with No. 5 Squadron, RAF and flew Hurricanes until mid-1944 when the squadron was refitted with P-47 Thunderbolts.
Following a period of training on the "Jugs" at a desolate place called YELAHANKA in central India, 261 Squadron returned to active duty on the Imphal front, to become the first R.A.F. Squadron to go on "Ops" with the "Jug" and first R.A.F. Squadron to bomb using "Jugs." (No other R.A.F. squadron can make that statement!)
On an escort job to Mytkina when a S.E.A.C. V .I.P- was to meet with members of
Vinegar Joe Stillwell's staff, we had already converted to the Jug D's with the "bubbly
canopy." The American squadron at Mytkina still had razor-backs and were most upset that the R.A.F. had the later model "Jugs" ahead of them. They had not at that time seen a bubbly canopy Jug. We were offered many cartons of "Lucky Strikes" and "Chesterfields" in exchange for a T.Bolt D.
The R.A.F. Wing of 261, 146 and 79 Squadrons were called on to skip-bomb the walls of Mandalay's Fort Dufferin in March of 1945. The initial bombing run was from South to North because of terrain; however,when a pair of 500 pounders skipped over the wall and headed for British lines (they were just North of the wall), a hurried change of direction was given. When the
skip-bombing was completed, the wall was breached, and the army was able to enter
Mandalay and the fort.
Following a leg injury in March, 1945,and after more than 70 missions, he was posted first to Cairo in the Middle East as an instructor, then to England, and eventually home to Canada in August. Discharged from the Air Force with the rank of Flight Lieutenant, he returned to
school in the fall of 1945 for a refresher at high school. In 1951 he graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry.
Following a year in Forestry Conservation he joined Ontario Hydro, where he was later commissioned as a land surveyor, and in 1960 entered the Electric Heating Department as a training instructor. He is at present very active in energy conservation with the electric utilities in Ontario.
Malcolm married Louise Young from Ridgeway, Ontario in 1952 and they have 4 children, Glynis, Lisa, Kevin and Graham.
Pilot Name
|
Biography Summary
|
John Abbotts
|
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.
|
Asa A. Adair
|
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.
|
Edward B. Addison
|
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.
|
Levon B. Agha-Zarian
|
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.
|
George N. Ahles
|
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.
|
Roy J. Aldritt
|
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.
|
Eugene J. Amaral
|
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.
|
Talmadge L. Ambrose
|
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.
|
John C. Anderson
|
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.
|
William Anderson
|
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.
|
|
|