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Eric J. Ohman
ERIC J. OHMAN, born Jan. 9, 1922
in a Ranch House 30 Miles Southwest of
Gillette, Wyoming, attended rural elementary schools and graduated from Campbell
County High School in 1939. Attended the
University of Washington in Seattle from
Sept. 1939 till Jan. 1942 studying Aeronautical Engineering. Sworn in as a Aviation
Cadet on Jan. 13, 1942 and graduated from
Luke Field Pheonix, Arizona with the Class of
42-I. Joined the 55th Sqd. 20th Ftr.Grp. at
Paine Field, Everett, Wa. in Oct. 1942.
Started flying P-39's transferred with the
20th Grp. to March Field, Riverside, Calif. in
Jan. 1943. Transferred to Tonopah, Nev.
Feb. 1943 and Joined 355th Sqd. 354th Ftr.
Grp. still flying P-39's. Moved with 354th
Ftr. Grp. to Hayward, Calif. in March 1943.
Was sent overseas in May 1943 to Casablanca
as a Replacement Fighter Pilot. Joined 91st
Sqd. 81st Ftr.Grp. in Sfax, Tunisia 7/15/43,
served in Africa, Sicily, an Italy Flying Convoy, and Harbor patrols. Flew cover for the
Anzio Invasion and escorted a C-54 carrying
President Roosevelt to the Cairo Conference.
In Feb. 1944 the 81st Ftr. Grp. moved to
India where flew P40s and were equipped
with New P-47's Flew own P-47 from Karachi, India to Chentu, China arriving 5/30/44
Mission to guard the new B-29 Bases in
China, Alerts from dawn to dusk not much
flying, flew some Strafing and dive bombing
missions. Returned to U.S.A. 4/9/45 flew 88
miss-ons, Awarded D.F .C. and Air Medal with
one cluster. Released from Active Duty 7/23/45 with rank of Captain returned to a ranching Career in Wyoming raising Sheep and
Cattle. Married Thelma Brown on 1/9/46
and have two boys Joel and-Nic. Served on
Campbell County School Board for 13 years.
Served as a County Commissioner for 16
years. Served in Wyoming State Senate filling
term of resigned member and presently serving second 6 year term as Wyoming
Aeronautics Commissioner. Is President of Ohmans,
Inc. a ranching operation, Director and Vice-
President of the First National Bank of
Gillette and is still actively flying.
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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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