Robert C. North
ROBERT C. NORTH, JR., born in
Brookville, Pa. on lucky Friday the 13th in
July, 1923 became airborne the first time in
a Ford Tri-.motor. After two years at Penn
State, he went through South East Training
Command from Maxwell Field to Napier
Field, Alabama, class of 44-A. In the 93rd
Fighter Squadron, 81st Group of Chenault's
14th Air Force, he was on hand at Chengtu,
China when the B-29's made their first raid
on Tokyo. Memorable flights included a pre-
dawn take-off on a successful strafing mission
near Peking, watching tracers coming at him,
but feeling confident in the Jug and knowing
its eight fifties were going to do their job; the
previous day, engine failure, a ground loop,
a chuck hole and a full belly tank led to the
firey end of his P-47; after getting dirt out of
his eyes and looking straight down at the
"farm" he pulled the Stearman mail plane
out and up, only to leave half the lower right
wing hanging in a tree. The 81st Group's
main objective was to protect the B-29's.
However, elements of the group alternated at
Hsian and other forward bases, effectively
performing strafing missions against trains,
vehicle and troop traffic, Hangkow and other
airfields. A few kills were scored by the
Thunderbolts in occasional air to air combat.
Gushkara, India was the rear base for the 81st
and pilots were alternated to keep up their
skills, since shortage of fuel limited flight
time in China. While on detached service
with 1st Combat Cargo, he flew 20 combat
missions in the C-47, delivering bombs, gas
and material to bases forward and behind
enemy lines. In February, 1946 he married
the girl for which his Jug "Miss Maxine" was
named, graduated from Penn State in 1947
and came to Los Angeles to pursue a career in
accounting. A .C.PA., he is currently Controller for a national manufacturer. He has a
daughter, Mary and two sons, Bob and Jim.
He is a charter member of P-47 Pilots Association and is active in the Western group. An
avid golfer, he is enjoying the challenges of
Riviera Country Club.
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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