|
E.H. "Bud" Miller
E.H. "BUD" MILLER, born in Carson City, Nevada, July 9, 1921. He attended
the University of Nevada until he enlisted in
the Nevada National Guard in the Spring of
1940. He was called to active duty in October of 1940, transferred to the 11th Cavalry,
served a year on active duty and was recalled
in January of 1942. Bud graduated from
Anti-aircraft Artillery O.C.S. and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. on December 17,1942.
He transferred to U.S.A.A.F., receiving flying training in Western Training Command
and graduated as a single engine pilot from
Luke Field, Arizona, Class of 44A. He flew
his first P-47 at Hammond Field, Louisiana,
and then went on to England, the 8th Air
Force and the 78th Fighter Group, located at
Duxford, England. The 78th was involved in
varied missions - escort, ground support
and probably the most critical were the
"flak-busting" missions prior to and during
the invasion of Holland when the 78th
suffered heavy casualties. Miller flew 76
missions and was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross with 1 cluster and the Air Medal
with 9 clusters.
Credited with four E/A destroyed, two of
which were JU-88's, he is probably best
known for his accomplishment as a "jet
chaser". After downing one ME 262 in
February of 1945, he then, with his flight,
only flew on missions where 262's were
anticipated to be in the air. On March 21,
1945 he again scored a kill on a 262 and was
one of the few in W.W.II to have two jet kills
to his credit.
Released from active duty in September of
1945, he entered the insurance business
with his father in Carson City, Nevada, which
he sold in 1966 and expanded his hobby of
raising and training quarter horses in Genoa,
Nevada.
In 1947 Bud was instrumental in forming
the Air Unit of the Nevada National Guard
and was Commander of the Hq. Detachment
and Assistant Adjutant General, Air, when he
retired from the Guard in 1951.
He is now living in Walnut Creek, California, moving from Nevada to accept a position
with the U.S. Department of Transportation
in 1971. Married to the former Alberta
Amaro of Thornton, California. He has four
living children: Michele, Richard, Robbie
Lyn and Edwin, Jr. A son, Eric, passed away
in 1978.
|
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.
|
|
|