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Robert V. Richards
ROBERT V. RICHARDS, atSuippes,
France in June, 1945, was born in Badin,
N.C. February 15, 1922. Attended Woodberry Forest School (Va.) and UNC at Chapel
Hill, majoring in Dramatic Arts. Studied at
Pasadena Playhouse. Enlisted as Aviation
Cadet in 1942 and graduated in 44-C at
Napier Field, Dothan, Ala., as a student of the
late and highly respected John W. Keeler
(Jug Letter Editor). He remained at Napier as
an AT-6 Instructor long enough for the front
runners to take care of our problems over
Germany. Frustration then, but in retrospect, a necessary part of building our eventual air superiority. Finally transition in
P-40's and SBD's before Basic P-47 at Bradley Field and Gunnery at Millville, N.J. With 45 other hot pilots, assigned to shepherd
Army GI's to Southampton in a 100 plus ship
convoy that took 19 days from Hoboken. . .
landing just before VE Day.
Bob's greatest thrill of WWII was not in
the air, but was getting together with his
Father three times after four years of separation . . . once in London and twice on the continent! After Replacement Depot at
Stone, he and three other shave tails started
chasing the 373rd, beginning at Rothchild
Estate in Paris, and on to Braunschweig
before finding them at R-12 in Illesheim.
Just in time to get some flying time in our
Jug, riding time on the 40 and 8, and poker
time on the USS West Point (SS America).
The 373rd was stateside for their 30 day
Recuperation, Recovery, and Rehabilitation
Leave when VJ Day came along, and for Bob,
instead of Sioux Falls, P-47N's, and the
Pacific, it was 12 hours in the Jug at Goldsboro, N.C. and OUT!! So much for about 300 Jug hours. War ain't all hell!
Bob married the former Anne Lewis of
Proctorville, N.C. while at CTD in Lynchburg,Va. in 1943. They have two children, William Stacy, and Kathryn Anne. Before
returning to Proctorville to live, Bob was a
marketing Vice-President with Applied Power in Milwaukee. He is now a farm manager and operates a small Body Shop Equipment
jobbing business as well.
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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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