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Harry K. Powell
HARRY K. POWELL, born May 13,
1924 in Akron, Ohio. After entering Purdue
University in 1942, enlisted in the Aviation
Cadet Reserve and was called to active duty in
early 1943. As a member of class 44-C
graduated from Spence Field, Moultrie,
Georgia. After training in P-40's joined the
79th Fighter Group, 85th Fighter Squadron
of the 12th Air Force, flying P-47's from
Corsica participated in the invasion of southern France. He flew 81 missions through VE-day destroying tanks, trucks, railroad
trains and bridges. Also escorted bombers,
cut rail lines and attacked enemy airfields. In
one day flew three missions against the airfield at Udine, Italy. Participated in six campaigns - Rome-Arno, Southern France,
Germany, Air Combat-Balkans, North
Appennines and Po Valley. Received the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal
with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Released from active duty December 25,
1945, as a Captain, he returned to Purdue
University.. Was graduated in June 1949
with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering.
Upon graduation went to work for the Air
Force as a Research and Development Engineer at Wright Field. At the same time
became a member of the Ohio Air Guard
flying P-51's. At Wright Field performed
wind tunnel tests on new aircraft designs and
helped set up the six inch and two foot
supersonic wind tunnels. Later he was lead
airframe engineer for the F-86, B-47 and
B-52. After a number of years as a group
leader of the Engineering Staff he became the
Chief Engineer for the Advanced Tanker
Cargo Aircraft, KC-10.
A life member of the P-47 Thunderbolt
Pilots Association, he is retired now and lives
in Cape Coral, Florida. He was married to Charlotte Elliott in 1949 and has one son Harry W. who is a private pilot.
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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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