Thomas McHenry
THOMAS R. McHENRY, born Sep.
tember 11, 1921, in Austin, Texas, moved to
Houston, Texas in 1931.
Education: Graduated from high school in
Houston and attended the University of Tex.
as in 1939 and 1940 and the University of
Houston in 1941.
Military: Enlisted in 1941 as an aviation
cadet and trained in the Class of 43-H.
Graduated and was commissioned at Moore
Field, Mission, Texas. McHenry was then
assigned to Mitchell Field, New York, and
was soon transferred to Westover Field in
Massachusett to begin P-47 flight training.
He was then assigned to the 373rd Fighter
Group and 411th Fighter Squadron in Virginia. The 373rd Group trained as a combat
group and was assigned to the 9th Air Force
in England after crossing the Atlantic by shop
convoy. He flew a number of missions from
England over Europe as far as Berlin and
became acquainted with dive bombing and
strafing tactics.
After "D-Day" the 373rd Fighter
Group moved to a beach airstrip and was
assigned as air support for the Third Army
working closely with General Patton's
troops. The 373rd made numerous moves
and finally wound up in Louvane, Belgium,
before the Battle of The Bulge.
Tom McHenry returned to duty in The
States in January, 1945, after 84 combat
missions.
Decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross;
Air Medal with 13 clusters; European Theater Medal with 4 Battle Stars.
Stateside Assignment: Flying Instructor at
Aloe Field, Texas.
Discharge: Honorable Discharge, July,
1945.
Civilian Pursuits: Initially upon discharge
from service went into the insurance business. After a short time bought a paint
franchise with Sam Marshall as partner. This
endeavor evolved into the building business
in 1947, and then they branched out in time
into real estate development and investments, and they are still active in all.
Personal: Married the former Helen Wolfe
in 1945 in Houston, Texas. Children: Thomas R., III; Helen McHenry Copeland, Reese
McHenry. Grandchildren: Katherine and
Allison Copeland.
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.
|
|
|