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James F. Roberts
JAMES F. ROBERTS, born April 3,
1923 near Atlanta, Ga., graduated from
Hapeville High School in 1940 and completed Blevins Aircraft Engine School, Atlanta, in 1941. Enlisted in Army Air Corps in
August, 1941 as aircraft mechanic and was
accepted for Staff Sgt. Pilot Training Program five days before Pearl Harbor. Graduated as Staff Sgt. Pilot in class of 42-K.
Discharged and appointed to newly created
rank of Flight Officer. Assigned to 303rd Fighter Squadron, Sarasota, Fla., flying P-40's. Transferred to Mediterranean Theater
in Feb. 1943. Assigned to 17th Squadron,
27th Light Bomb Group (later Fighter-Bomber) Flying A36's, a dive bomber
version of the P51A. Participated in N.
Africa, Sicily, and Italy campaigns flying
dive bombing, strafing, and close support
attacks on tanks, docks, and supply lines as
well as flying cover for Sicily and Italy
invasions. Completed 59 missions. He was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and
Air Medal with six clusters. Commissioned in
the field Sept., 1943.
Returned to U.S. Dec. 1943 and was
assigned to 6th Ferrying Group, Long Beach,
Calif. ferrying 18 different types of single,
twin, and 4 engine aircraft. Discharged
under point system in June 1945 and joined
the CAA (now FAA) as an air traffic controller trainee at the Atlanta Air Traffic Control Center. Transferred to San Juan, P.R. Center
in Aug. 1948 and to Memphis, Tenn. Center
in June 1951. Flew P-47s with Puerto Rico
Air National Guard from Mar. 1949 until
May 1951.
Transferred to Southern Region HQ, FAA,
in Atlanta, Ga. in Jan. 1962. He was project
manager for the initial computerized air
traffic control operations in the Southern
Region. Retired from FAA southern Region
in 1971 as Chief, Automation Branch, Air
Traffic Division. Joined Teledyne Acceptance Corp. as Field Representative until May 1975.
He married Dolores Manhardt in 1943
and has three children, Claudia, James, Jr.,
and David.
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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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