Vernon B. Ritchey
VERNON B.RITCHEY, born July
16, 1920 in Verona, Pennsylvania, moved
with family to Buffalo, New York in 1928,
then to metropolitan New Jersey area in
1936. Received B.A. Degree from Montclair
State College, New Jersey in 1941, and Juris
Doctor Degree in 1953 from Rutgers University Law School.
Participant in first college Civilian Pilot
Training (CPT) program obtaining private
pilots license in 1939. Commenced military
service as Aviation Cadet in Class 43K but
accelerated and commissioned 2nd Lt. in
Class 43J.
Received P-47 transition at Seymour
Johnson AFB and Bluethenthal AFB in late
1943 and early 1944, with several months
interruption in early 1944 for temporary
duty assignment to ATC to ferry P-47s from
Republic factory at Evansville, Indiana to
Newark, New Jersey and Long Beach and
Alameda, California for pickling and shipping to overseas bases.
Commenced overseas duty in May 1944 in
Karachi, India replacement pool. Assigned to
19st Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group
in Chengtu and Sian areas of China where,
with extremely limited gasoline supplies, we
primarily flew low level, missions destroying
Japanese supply trains and troop trains,
bridges, storage areas, a number of ground
support missions to Chinese Nationalist
troops (including use of napalm), and a
number of night fighter interception missions against Japanese night air raids.
Returned from China in late 1945 and
released from active duty in early 1946,
resuming employment (which began in
1941) with The Prudential Insurance Company of America, in the Group Insurance
Department of its Corporate Home Office,
Newark, New Jersey, currently with the job
of Vice President, Group Contracts and
Assistant Secretary.
Charter member of P-47 Thunderbolt
Pilots Association, served as Treasurer for
years 1970-1974, Chairman of Finance
Committee for 1978-1980, and Associate
Director since 1978. Married in 1946 to
Ruth Hoffman, with five children - Vernon
Scott, Robert, Diane, James and Lisa.
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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