Edward J. Palovich
EDWARD J. PALOVICH, born 2-16-20 in Pennsylvania and grew up in
Toledo, Ohio. He was working and attending
school in Detroit, Michigan when the war
broke out. After Pearl Harbor he enlisted in
the Army Aviation Cadet Program in
Detroit, February, 1942, and was placed on
reserve status for future aviation training.
Ordered to active duty June 1942 from
Toledo, Ohio.
He trained in the Western Training Command receiving his wings and commission at
Luke Field, Arizona. Assigned to the E.T.O.
he went to Africa then to Italy. With the 66
squadron, 57th Fighter Group which was
designated a separate task force for Operation Strangle (See movie "Thunderbolt") he
flew close support, dive bombing and strafing including rocker attacks of marshaling
yards, trains, bridges and tunnels, factories
and anything deemed necessary to hamper
the Nazi war effort and to prevent supplies
and reinforcements from Germany to come
thru the heavily defended Brenner Pass lifeline to the Italian front.
On his 48th mission a bomber escort into
Brenner Pass his flight was bounced by 33
enemy planes and in the ensuing dogfight
his plane was hit by a 37m.m. cannon shell
which exploded in the cockpit wounding
him. His plane still responded so he continued fighting until forced to bailout later
when the oxygen bottle blew up engulfing
the cockpit in flames.
In the hospital after examining Palovich's
wounds and burns a German General gave
him the machine gun slug removed from his
shoulder wound. The highly distressed General couldn't understand how he could lose
five planes bouncing four P-47's with 33 of
his own.
He returned to Toledo, where his wife,
the former Eleanor Pass, resided while he
was overseas, and started his own business.
In 1954 he moved to Phoenix, Arizona
where he became and still is a Real Estate
Broker. He is owner-President of a Mortgage
Company, and a co-owner of a Mercedes-
Benz sales and service automobile business.
He owns and still personally flies his own
planes. He is currently serving his fourth
term as Vice President, Region five, P-47
Thunderbolt Pilots Association. Member P-40 Warhawk Pilots Association. 4 E.A., 1
Probable destroyed.
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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