Paul J. Quilty
PAUL J. QUILTY, March 24, 1924 at
Quincy, Mass. After graduating from Quincy
High School in 1941 he took his first flying
lessons in a "J-3 Cub" at Norwood, Mass.
Enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air
Corps in April 1942. Graduated and commissioned class 43-E at Eagle Pass, Tex. After having checked out and flown Curtiss P-36s.
Assigned to Westover Field, Mass. where he
had his first flight in a P-47B. He joined the
396th Fighter Sqd. 368th Fighter Grp. as an
original member. Left for European theater
of operations in December 1943 where the
368th was assigned to the Ninth Air Force.
Flew his first combat mission March 14,
1944 ten days before his 20th birthday. He
flew 85 combat missions. He flew in escort of
B-17s, B.24s, B-25s, B-26s, A-20sA-26s and
also flew dive bomb, strafing missions on
airfields, railroad yards, trains, tanks and
trucks. He took part in the air support of
"Omaha" beach on "D-Day" June 6th,
1944. The 368th Fighter was the first to be
based in France. He shot down a ME-109 on
June 22, 1944. He also had a probable and a
damaged at a later date. As an assistant Grp.
Opns. Officer he was on duty when the
"Battle of the Bulge" started and took part in
setting up and briefing of successful air
strikes against German tanks during the early
hours of the breakthrough. He took part in
"Air Offensive Europe, Northern France,
Normandy, Rhineland". He was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with
13 Clusters.
Released from active duty in May 1945,
he was hired as a pilot by Northeast Airlines
on Sept. 15,1945. He was medically retired
from Delta Airlines in August 1974 having
served 29 years as Captain and Pilot in
Command on DC-3, DC-4, Convair.240, DC-6B, Vickers Viscount, and Boeing 727 air.
craft. He took part in the development of the
pilots Jet Training Program. He had 22,000
hours flight time at retirement.
He was an early member of P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association having attended the first P-47 reunion at Republic Field May 2,1961. He married Margaret Kay in 1945 and had four children Patricia, Barbara,
Beverly and David.
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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