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Robert D. Billett
ROBERT D. BILLETT, born August 23,1923, in Evanston, Illinois, entered the University of Rochester in 1941, three months before Pearl Harbor.
He enlisted in the Air Corps Reserve a year later and was called to the colors in February 1943. After basic training at Atlantic City, New Jersey, CTD at Syracuse University and marking
time at SAACC in San Antonio, he entered
pre.flight training in August, 1943, Class of
44.D. Primary flight training took place at
IBonham, Texas; basic at Greenville; and!
advanced at Eagle Pass where he received his
wings and commission in April, 1944.
He first became acquainted with the P-47 at
RTU at Strother Field, Winfield, Kansas.
Overseas was his next assignment and he
joined the 524th Squadron of the 27th
Fighter Group, a unit of the 12th Tactical
Air Force in Italy. After three months in Italy
flying dive bombing and straffing missions
primarily in the Poe Valley and Brenner Pa88
areas, the 27th was moved to St. Dizier,
France in February, 1945 to become part of
the 1st Tactical Air Force supporting General Patch's 7th Army.
Close support ground attacks were added to his repertoire. V.E. Day found his group stationed near Biblis, Germany, having been the first fighter group located at an air field east of the Rhine River. Lt. Billett flew 98 missions in just over five months, all in P-47's.
After his release from active duty in October, 1945, Billett returned to the University of Rochester and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor or Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. His first job brought him to Dayton, Ohio where he was employed by Frigidaire Division, GMC, in technical sales work. For the past twenty years he has been a manufacturer's representative
selling capital equipment to industry in Ohio and Indiana.
A charter member of the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association, he resides in Dayton with his wife Audrey. They have four children, Margie, Jeff, Jon and Todd.
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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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