James Richard Parsons
JAMES RICHARD PARSONS,
born November 6, 1922 in West Plains,
Missouri. Graduated from high school 1940,
Janesville, Wisconsin. Enlisted Cadet Training October 1942. Commissioned class of
43-I at Dothan, Alabama. Flew P-40 in
advanced flying school. P-47 transition at
Richmond, Virginia. November 1943
assigned to 373rd FTR. GP. 410 SQD. at
Norfolk, Virginia. March 1944 373rd
assigned to United Kingdom. Transferred to
412th SQD. Flew 76 missions, most were
dive bombing and close troop support for
patton's 3rd army in France.
Three missions stand out. May 27, 1944,
first bombing mission, a railroad bridge near
Reuen France. Thirty six planes with 1000
lb, bombs. All bombs missed. Another strike
later the same day destroyed the bridge. June 6, 1944, flying cover for D-DAY invasion
beaches. Sitting at 10,000 feet watching the
entire operation, the ships stretching from
England to France. The landing on the
beaches. A frustrating feeling to fly cover and
not see one German Plane. December 6,
1944, last mission. The 412th SQD. was sent
from Belgium into Holland to dive bomb a
radio controlled B-17 that got away from its
controller and went down, without blowing
up. They were told not to get below 5000 feet
on bombing run, because of expected explosion. On the way, Ground Control changed
the mission, to intercept a large group of
German Fighters that were heading for a
flight of B-26 Bombers. As they approached
the intercept point, the Germans turned
back. By this time fuel was low, they had to
dump bombs, and return to base.
Flew the P-47 (B'COMINBAC), on its
100th mission without an abort. The first
P-47 in the 9th A.F. to accomplish this. The
ship was assigned to LT. C. L. Hough.
Shot down one ME 109 in aerial combat.
Was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,
and the Air Medal with 13 Clusters. Released
from active duty May 1945, as a First Lt.
Married Charlotte Crompton, a childhood
sweetheart, July 1943, while at Basic Flying
School, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Has three
children, Janet, Virginia, and James T.
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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