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Leo J. Reuther III
LEO J. REUTHER, III, born March
14,1922, in New York, New York, graduated from Columbia College in 1942 with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
He enlisted in the United States Army Air
Corps while in college and entered active
duty after graduation. He completed aviation
cadet training in the class of 44-C and was
commissioned at Mission, Texas. Following
fighter training at Richmond AFB and what
is now Andrews Field, Washington, D.C.,
Reuther was transferred to the 10th Air
Force, China Burma India Theater, and
assigned to the famous 60th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group, where he served as Flight Leader and Squadron Adjutant. This
squadron flew more combat missions in the
Burma campaign than any other, setting
numerous individual and group sortie and
mission records. The squadron was engaged
in close support of British and American
ground forces, including the famed Merrill's
Marauders, in their southward push against
the Japanese.
Lee Reuther flew 142 combat missions,
leading attacks on enemy troops, air fields,
trains, tanks, artillery, ammunition depots,
supply routes, bridges and railroads. In January of 1945, he was shot down by enemy ground fire, and crash landed in the Burma
jungle behind enemy lines. An American L-5
pilot rescued him in the face of advancing
Japanese troops. Reuther was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf
cluster, the Air Medal with two oak leaf
clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal
with three battle stars and Distinguished Unit
Badge.
Following his release from active duty in
January 1946, he joined TWA as an administrative officer. On March 3, 1947, Lee
Reuther was appointed a Special Agent in the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. He served
the FBI in the states of Tennessee, Washington and Maryland, concluding a career of more than 28 years service in the New York
office as Supervisor of the criminal section.
A life member of the P-47 Thunderbolt
Pilots Association, Reuther has been a member since the organization's inception. He is
retired and living at Stratton Mountain ski
and golf resort in Southern Vermont. He is
married to Galen Knowles and has two
dau~hters, Loralee and Leslie.
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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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