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Nero Moura
NERO MOURA, born January 30,
1910 in Brazil. In 1927 enlisted as Cadet of
Military School, graduated in 1930. In 1934
took a course in Ecole d'Application de L'Air
flying Morane, Potez and Breguet, Paris,
France. In 1936 was commissioned as flight
instructor, air and ground gunnery and bombardier at Army Aviation School. In 1938
was C.O. of the 3rd Fighter Group. In
1939/40 he was General Commander of the
instructors in the Army Aviation School
From 1941/44 was the President's pilot
and Operation Officer of the Air Ministry
Cabinet, at the time when the Brazilian Air
Force was founded in 1941. In December
1943 was assigned Commandant of the 1st
Fighter Group. He took a fighter course in
Orlando, Florida, at the School of Applied
Tactical of AAF and Panama where he flew
P-40 then was assigned for Canal Zone
Defense. In July he took the Group to Suffolk, Long Island, to train flying. He flew
there in P-47 67 hours. In October 7, the 1st
Brazilian Fighter Squadron arrived in Tarquinia and started on combat missions in
October 18.
During the "Operation Strangle" he made
62 missions, destroying supply routes, railroads, bridges, ammunition depots and near
the war end made close support attacks for
the Allied Army Forces.
He received the Distinguished Flying
Cross, Air Medal with 2 clusters, Bronze Star,
Legion of Merit from the USA, Grand Officer
de La Legion d'Honneur and Croix de Guerre
from France, Gran Croce de Al Merito, Italy,
Combat Cross 2 clusters, Medal of Italian
Campaign, South Atlantic Cross for patrol in
South Atlantic all from Brazil.
He retired as a Brigadier in October 1945.
After retirement he was Superintendent of
two Brazilian airlines. He returned to BAF as
Air Ministry in 1951/54 during the last
period of president Vargas.
When the war was over he traveled to the
USA and flew back from San Antonio to
Brazil as leader of 19 Thunderbolts by the
east coast with the only aid of VHF radio and
very poor weather report in route.
His total flight time is 5000 hours. He
always flew fighter planes, including the
Thunderbolt (350 hours).
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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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