Joseph E. Potts
JOSEPH E. POTTS, . Sent by train to
San Francisco where he and another classmate were placed on a cargo-passenger
B-24 and arrived in Brisbane, Australia on December 25, 1943. On January 1, 1944 assigned to the 40th Ftr. Sq., 35th Ftr. Gp., 5th Air
Force, which had just switched from P-39s to
P-47 razorbacks, at Nadzab, New Guinea.
Most missions consisted of strafing airfields,
dive bombing, escorting B-24 and A-20s and
destroying Japanese military tragets throughout New Guinea, Noemfoor Island, Biak, Morotai and the Philippines.
Returned to the States in March, 1945
after flying 93 combat missions. During
training for Instructor-Gunnery at Foster
Field, Victoria, Texas and then Eglin Field,
Florida, the Pacific War ended. With enough
points to leave the Service, September 20,
1945, he returned home to Johnstown, Pa.
In October, 1945, he began his college
education at the University of Pittsburgh and
he obtained his B.S. degree in Mechanical
Engineering in January, 1949. He then
worked for Bethlehem Steel, U.S. Steel and
National Radiator Co. In 1963 he joined the
Veterans Administration as a general engineer and is currently working as a V.A.
Medical District Safety Fire Protection Engineer and residing in Exton, Pa. (40 miles west
of Philadelphia). He married Mary Ann
Marine, who he met at the University of
Pittsburgh during their freshman year, in
July 1950. They have two children. Joe a
graduate of Rensselaer, Aeronautical Engineering, and now a Air Force Navigator and Lynne a Junior at the University of Delaware
majoring in Chemical Engineering.
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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