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Thomas K. McCaffrey
THOMAS K. MCCAFFREY born April 14, 1924 Cordelia California moving to the Napa Valley, CA, where as a youth he spent his years helping his family run a small diary operation and going to school. After
graduating from high school in 1942 he
enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation
cadet in late 1942, after completing basic
training at Fresno, Calif. was assigned to
C.T.D. at Missoula, Mont. then on to Santa
Anna, Calif. for pre-flight training, on to
primary at Santa Maria, Calif., basic at
Lemoore, Calif. then graduating at Luke
Field, Arizona, in class 44 D. Went on to
Baton Rouge, La. for indoctrination in the
P-47, from there to Bruning, Neb. for R.T.U.
returning to Baton Rouge for overseas
replacement in Aug. 1944. After some more
training in England, was assigned to the
412th Ftr. Sqdn. 373rd Grp. in France
where he flew 57 missions doing close support, dive bombing, strafing trains, airfields,
convoys, and troop movements. Credited
with 2 E/A in air. Also had the honor of
flying with the 1st American Group to fly
from German soil. After some occupation
duty in southern Germany, returned to U.S.
in Aug. 1945 for leave to regroup to go on
the Pacific Theater, but V.J. Day came along
at the right time, so was released from active
duty in Sept. 1945. After returning home to
Calif. was assigned to Hamilton Field, to fly
with the Air Force Reserve, later transferring
to the Calif. A.N.G. flying P-51's for several
years. He has been in the heavy construction
business since late 1945 doing road building,
and home site work. He married Maude
Thompson in July 1944 2 weeks before going
overseas and has 1 son Keith and daughter-in-law Linny and 3 lovely grandchildren Kelton
8 yrs., Max and Molley, twins 5 yrs. He
spends any spare time on his hobby of collecting a restoring old tractors, trucks and
engines. Is hoping to retire soon so as to spend
more time with his family and pursue his
hobby further and travel some.
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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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