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George W. Osborne
GEORGE W. OSBORNE, JR., born
June 26,1923, at Charleroi, Pa., grew up in
rural areas of Maryland, West Virginia, and
Pennsylvania, graduated from Trinity High
School, Washington, Fa. He worked as a
foreman at Jessup Steel Co. making armour
plate and propeller steel used in the type
combat plane he was to fly.
Interested in aircraft and flying, he
enlisted in the Aviation Cadets in October,
1942, entered active duty February 1,
1943, receiving basic training at Miami
Beach, Florida. Completing flying school in
the southeast Training Command, he graduated in class 44B at Spence Field, Moultrie,
Georgia, receiving his wings and commission.
After P47 Thunderbolt training at Camp
Springs, Maryland (now Andrews Air Base)
near Washington, D.C., and gunnery at Millville, N.J., he left for England June 22,
1944.
George was assigned to the 53rd Sqdn.,
36th Ftr. Gr., July 31, 1944, reporting to
St. Marie du Monte, France, a few days
before the group arrived from England. In
November 1944, he was promoted to first
lieutenant. George flew 56 combat missions,
over France, Belgium, and Germany, primarily dive bombing and strafing, including
support for Patton's tanks. He also spent 21/2
months at 78th Inf. headquarters as Air/
Ground Cooperation Officer, coordinating
air support for the infantry. During this time,
the division accompanied the 9th Armoured
when it took the Remagen Bridge and made
the first Rhine crossing.
George returned to the U.S. in July, 1945,
ended active duty in December, and was
discharged from Air Force Reserve in May,
1955. Citations - Air Medal with eight oak
leaf clusters - EAME with four battle stars.
Distinguished Unit Badge. Battle Credits -
Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe, and
Northern France.
On Valentine's Day, 1944, George married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Kinder, who was in nurses training at Washington Hospital. In 1947, after completing his
education at Penn Commercial College in
Washington, they moved to Pomona, California, and purchased a home. They have four
daughters; Susan, Rebecca, Melissa, Priscilla, and a granddaughter, Jennifer.
George worked as an industrial accountant
until 1964, when he opened his own
accounting service with a staff of three.
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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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