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Lowery 'Brab' Brabham
LOWERY "BRAB" BRABHAM.
I resigned from the Army Air Corps (36th Pursuit Squadron, 8th Group) in July 1940 to go with Republic as a test pilot. Six months later was Chief Test Pilot.
Flew lots of P-35s built for Sweden also Swedish dive bomber. Among tests that stand out in my
memory were research in carbon monoxide
in enclosed cockpits which led to a greater
awareness of this danger. These tests coordinated
with Air Corps Medical personnel.
Next came tests on the YP 43 which was a very bad ground looper and it was found by landing at varying angles of attack that ground loops were entirely aerodynamic rather than mechanical as had been previously suspected. Lowering the ground angle below the hand book requirements of 90% C 1 Max completely solved the problem and
led to the elimination of ground loops on
other aircraft.
The P-47 was really the first airplane with
reserve takeoff power and pioneered in extremely high altitude performance. First we ran into troubles with ignition as the turbo supercharger gave such high internal cylinder pressures at the higher levels that sparking could not bring on ignition since at the lower density the spark jumped to some convenient spot outside the cylinder. This finally solved by pressurizing the entire ignition system.
A little higher the oil boiled to the point that all oil pressure could not be maintained. Simple solution was bleeding pressure from the turbo into the oil tank. The turbo was also the source of pressure for the ignition system.
As you know, I was pleased to do all the original testing on the P-47 and after it got in combat I visited every theater and new with the pilots to offer any help I could to improve combat effectiveness.
Other aircraft flown at Republic were the
XP-72, a small airplane about the size of the
P-47 but with a 4000 UP, P & W R.4360 engine and one of the first contra-rotating propellers. This propeller proved worthless for the airplane as all directional stability disappeared.
I guess next was the XR-12 Rainbow and as you know I did all the original tests on this one. That was a beauty and the first airplane
to equal and exceed its performance was the 707. The Rainbow as configured for the airlines had a cruise speed of 450 mph and top of 500 mph. And this in 1946!
After I did some flying of the F-84, Our first jet and somewhat later into Administrative work and was elected VP In 1952 and retired in 1964.
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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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