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Andrew J. Osborne
ANDREW J. OSBORNE (Andy),
born 14 March, 1922 in Wichita, Kansas,
attended the Wichita School System,
graduating 1942. Applied for pilot training
in U,S, Army Air Corps, was accepted and
shipped to Southeast Training Command.
Graduated 2nd Lt. from Marianna Field,
Florida, in Class 43-J.
Assigned to 5th Air Force, under General
George Kenney, to 58th Fighter Group,
69th Sqdn. His first flight in the theater was
out of Port Moresby, New Guinea, where he
flew with the outfit for 110 missions, 300
hours of combat and 9 major battles. . .
touching places like Noemfoor, Weiwak, Hollandia, Rabaul, Leyte, Mindoro, Luzon, Okinawa and Japan. Returned to l-1 shortly
after the Jap Surrender Party arrived at
IeShima.
First duty assignment after the war was
Goodfellow Field, Texas where he was
ground and flight instructor for Chinese
Cadets in B-25's. Separated from the service
shortly thereafter.
Returned to Wichita and attended Wichita
State University, majoring in engineering.
While going to school, he ferried new Cessna's to the west coast. Terminated college in
1949, got married and joined Boeing-Wichita, as a draftsman. Signed up with the
127th Fighter Sqdn., KANG., flying P-51D's, acquiring some 500 hours.
Early in the 1950's the 127th phased into
the F -84C's, and went on active duty, ending
up in Korea (K.2, Taegu) where he flew 50
combat missions. The rest of Andy's active
duty tour was spent at Itazuki Air Force Base
in Japan, flying engineering test flights on
F -84 's. He was rotated back to the States and
returned to Air Guard status in Wichita in
1952, where he checked out in the F-80's.
Also resumed his job at Boeing.
In 1954, he returned to active duty and
attended Aircraft Maintenance Officers
School in Chanute Field, Illinois. He then
changed his MOS from fighter pilot to maintenance officer.
In 1963, after 20 years' service, Andy
retired from the KANG as Captain. He is
employed at Beech Aircraft in Wichita as a
wind tunnel model designer.
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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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