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George E. Bostwick
GEORGE E. BOSTWICK grew up in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and attended Ripon College from 1937.41 where he received a BS degree. He entered the U.S. Army Infantry in June 1941 and graduated
from flying school on October 1, 1943.
Arriving at Boxsted, England in early 1944,
he joined the 62nd Squadron of the 56th
Fighter Group and flew his first mission on
May 11, 1944. By the end of June, Bostwick had flown 37 missions including two on D-Day to the
Normandy beachhead.
On the 7th of June, he destroyed his first aircraft in the air, an ME 109, over Grandvilliers, France and on July 4 over Conches Airdrome Bostwick destroyed three ME 109's in quick succession. He also damaged an ME 109 in the air on the same mission. For the most part of the mission, he was on his own and at a great
disadvantage because of a malfunctioning
aircraft.
He was awarded the Silver Star for his accomplishments on this mission. Two days later, on July 6, flying LM.Z "Ugly Duckling," Bostwick destroyed an ME 109 in the air over Beaumont, France, to become an ace. On September 8, on this 70th mis. sion, he destroyed three FW 190's on the ground at Euskirchen Airdrome.
Reassigned to the 63rd Squadron on his return to the 56th Fighter Group for a second combat tour in January 1945, Bostwick flew his first mission on January 10, a rodeo to Cologne. On March 25,
George Bostwick became one of the few allied
pilots to shoot down a twin jet ME 262. On
April 7, he destroyed two ME 190s in the air
Near Bremen. Three days later, Bostwick flew a rodeo to Berlin and in an attack on Werder Airdrome destroyed four aircraft on the ground.
Bostwick flew his last mission of the war on April, a ramrod to Muldorf. Tally Record: 8 destroyed and 3 damaged in the air and 7 destroyed and 3 damaged on the ground.
At the cessation of hostilities, the US Air Force sent Bostwick to the USAF Institute of Technology and to graduate school at Stanford University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering and Master's
degrees in Business and Industrial Engineering.
Upon graduating, he served in procurement, engineering and maintenance capacities, retiring from the USAF on October 31, 1963. Since then, he has worked at the General Dynamics facility at Fort Worth, Texas.
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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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