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John H. Pease
JOHN H.PEASE, born in Stillwater,
Minnesota on 3 November 1919. He moved.
with his family to Boise, Idaho at an early age
where he attended local schools. While
attending Boise Junior College, he completed
the primary and secondary Civilian Pilot
Training Courses (CPTP) and was accepted as
an aviation cadet, Randolph Field, Texas in
the fall of 1940, Class of 41-B. He graduated
from Brooks Field, Texas on 14 March 1941 .
His initial assignment was to the 94th
Pursuit Squadron, Selfridge Field, Michigan,
where he completed fighter transition. He
was later assigned to the 52d Pursuit Group
performing ferry missions and served on the
service test of the Curtiss P-40D at Patterson
Field, Ohio. He became a member of the
"Caterpillar" Club while on detached service
with the 57th Pursuit Group bailing out of a
P40E over the Bakersfield, California
mountains in October 1940.
When war was declared he left Selfridge
Field with the 11th Pursuit Squadron (Jack
Chennault's Baby Flying Tigers) and served
in the Aleutians until the summer of 1943,
attaining the rank of Captain. He served with
the 18th Fighter Squadron as a Flight Commander. Returning to Richmond Army Air
Field in June 1943, he completed P-47
transition training and was assigned to the
cadre of the 366th Fighter Group (Hun
Hunters), 389th Fighter Squadron as Squadron Commander. The 366th Group under
the command of Colonel Dyke Meyer completed unit training at Bluenthenthal Field,
Wilmington, North Carolina, in December
1943, and shipped to England aboard the
"Empress of Australia." The Group was stationed at Thruxton Air Field, England. After
"D" Day they moved to "Stripp # 1 on
Omaha Beach and later to the ex.German
airfield at Laon, France. Initial fighter
strikes for the group commenced in February, 1944. Colonel Pease flew 125 missions,
consisting of bomber escorts (Ramrods), dive
bomb, and interdiction missions against rail
heads, ski bomb sights (Buzzbombs), bridges
and close support of one of General Patton's
combat teams. Two enemy aircraft were
destroyed and decorations earned included
the DFC, AM with 23 OLC, and the Croix de
Guere with palm.
Returning to CONUS in late 1944, now
Lieutenant Colonel, he continued to assist in
the training of fighter pilots at Fort Sumner
AAF, New Mexico. In 1946, he was integrated into the regular service and served as
advisor to the Indiana ANG until 1950. He
served with distinction in command and
operations staff positions, thereafter, to
include: Commander 122d Fighter Group
Air Defense (F-102A) 1957.1959; J-3, JCS
(Air Defense) 1963-1965; Commander
37th Air Division AD GooseAir Base Labrador (1965-1968) and Deputy IG Aerospace
Defense Command 1969-1970.
He attained the rank of Colonel, USAF, on
15 April 1953, and was awarded, additional.
ly, the Legion of Merit with cluster, Joint
Staff Commendation Medal, Army Commendational Medal and Air Force Commendation
Medal.
He was retired with 30 years service on
February 1970. Colonel Pease makes his
home with his wife,. Marie, in Colorado
Springs, Colorado. He is a member of
Daedalians, TROA, USAF AA, civic groups in
the area, and assists in the Retiree Affairs
Office at Peterson Air Force Base.
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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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