Thomas C. Marsters
THOMAS C. MARSTERS, born
September 17, 1922 at Danville, Illinois,
graduated University of Illinois in 1949 with
Business Degree. He was an Aircraft Inspector at Briggs Manufacturing Co. in Detroit,
Mich. when he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet
in 1942. He graduated and was commissioned with the class of 44-C at Aloe Field,
Texas. First assignment after P-47 training
was gunnery instructor at Millville AAB,
New Jersey. Assigned to 525th Squadron,
86th Fighter Bomber Group in February
1945. Main mission was ground support and
targets were trains, ammo dumps, tanks,
artillery, airfields and most anything that
moved. He destroyed 13 enemy aircraft on
the ground. Spent one year in the Army of
Occupation at Schweinfurt, Germany.
Released from active duty May 1946,
started and finished college in 3 years. Joined
the Illinois Air National Guard flying P-51's
and unit was activated in February, 1951.
Assigned to 20th Tactical Fighter Wing,
Wethersfield, England July 1956 and
became Officer.in-charge of 3rd Air Force
Jet Instrument Training and Transition
School. Assigned to 1st Aerospace Control
Squadron June 1961 as first Operations
Officer of the original USAF Space Tracking
Center after extensive training in Satellite
tracking at Hanscom Field, Mass.
He was medically retired as a Major in
August, 1964 after 16 years active duty.
Immediately began a career in Real Estate
and became Vice-President and General Sales
Manager of largest company in Colorado
Springs, CO. Resigned in 1979 and formed
Marsters Realty. He married Suzanne Winter
in 1944 and they had 5 children, Kerry,
Sandra, John, Amy and Libby.
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.
|
|
|