Leslie C. Boze
LESLIE C. BOZE, born August 21, 1922, at Victoria, Virginia. Enlisted 1942 as air cadet; graduated class 44.A, Napier Field, Alabama. Operational training in Thunderbolts at Bradley Field, Connecticut.
Assigned 365th Sqdn., 358th Group, "Orange Tails," in England. Flew 193 missions in "Jugs"
from D.Day to early 1945 in France and
Germany on close support ground targets for
9th A.F. and 12th TAC. Lost five T-Bolts to
ground fire. Had two bailouts and the unusual experience of deadsticking a "Jug" with frozen engine and prop from 10,000 feet to
a wheels-down (happy) landing.
On loan to RAF for short period and ditched a Spitfire in the Channel after engine failure. Credited with four victories and three probables in air, plus one V-1 flying bomb. Assigned to 63rd Division, 7th Army, March, 1945, as Forward Air Controller. Fought with line infantry for five weeks from West of Rhine to South of Danube.
Awards include Combat Infantry Badge, RAF wings (Honorary), DFC with Cluster, Purple Heart with two Clusters, Air Medal with eighteen Clusters,
three Presidential Citations for grouP-
Reassigned in States to Tac Recon P-51 's, flew air shows with aerial demonstration team unofficially named "The Unholy Three." Became
civilian in September, 1946. Received belated
Special Citation and award for attacking
and destroying German machine gun position
while with Infantry in Europe.
Earned degree in Mechanical Engineering, Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, 1951. Career directed
to Research and Development in numerous fields. Participated in development and commercialization
of "Dacron" polyester fiber. Developed fabrication techniques for Titon II ICBM, basic research on exotic metal and ablatives for re-entry vehicles. Propulsion R&D for Titan III and Apollo lunar excursion
module engines.
Presently Senior Research Engineer for DuPont Co. engaged in development and commercialization of Tyvek spunbonded material. Continued military flying in Reserve and National Guard from 1946 to 1972, retired as Colonel. Life Member P-47 Thunderbolt Association Married home town girl, Charlotte Gary in 1947; four Children, Cherlene, Kristi, Tim, Gary and two grandchildren.
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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