|
Herbert J. Rogers
HERBERT J. ROGERS, better
known as "Buck", was born July 31, 1917
in Somerville, Mass. While attending Northeastern University, he earned his private pilots license. Hitler's continued success was
his challenge to become a Flying Cadet. The
beginning of a most rewarding career.
Buck's Basic was at Parks in St. Louis, then
to Randolph Field, graduating from Kelly
Field, Class 42A, Jan.9,1942. He spent the
next ten months instructing at Randolph.
One of his students was Ben Randolph, the
Field was named for his father.
November 1942 joined the 6th Air Force,
Panama, flying P-39's and P-40's. September 1943 he returned to the U.S., assigned to the 3rd Air Force, Waycross, Ga. He was
Squadron Ops. flying P-39's, P-40's, and
P-47's and there made Captain.
Buck made it to Europe July 1944,
assigned to the 9th Air Force, 365 Fighter
Group, 388 Fighter Squadron, flying P-47's.
Their mission, close support for General
Hodges 1st Army from the Beachhead north
to Paris and then into Germany. By V.E.
Day, he had flown 93 Combat Missions,
destroying Marshalling Yards, Ammunition
Dumps, Bridges, Boats and Barges, Gun Positions, Tanks, Locomotives, Factories and Airports. Several times a week, they escorted
B-17's and B-26s. He brought home: The
Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal
with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished
Unit Citation with Cluster and the Belgian
Croix De Guere. His campaigns; Air Offensive Europe, Ardennes.Alsace, Central
Europe, Normandy, Northern France and
Rhineland.
Major Buck, returned home Sept. 1945.
Once again it was Randolph, where he married Jane Cullen of San Antonio. 1947 he
received his Regular Commission in the
U.S.A.F. and became Director of Flying at
Perrin Air Force Base. Then it was overseas,
assigned to the U.S. Embassy, Stockholm,
Sweden as Assistant Air Attache.
1954-57 he took three years to go around
the world Inspecting the Air Attaches. Jan. 1957 it was the Armed Forces Staff College.
From there to S.A.C.'s 2nd Bomb Wing,
Hunter at Savannah, checking out in the
B-47. Next loomed Strategic Air Command
Headquarters, Omaha in the Directorate of
Intelligence. In 1962 he attended Air War
College at Maxwell, Ala. From there he went
to 2nd Air Force, Barksdale, at Shreveport,
La.
May 1965 Buck was in Saigon, Vietnam as
Director of Defense Analysis at Ton Son
Nhat. The high lite of this tour was briefing
General Westmoreland weekly!
In 1966, it was the Pentagon as Inspector
General, Defense Intelligence Agency.
Another 3 years, he went around the world
inspecting Defense Attaches.
Buck hung up his blue suit as a full Colonel
on his 53rd birthday, after 30 great years. He
is now at home in San Antonio busily torn
between Ranches and Real Estate. Life member of the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association.
|
Pilot Name
|
Biography Summary
|
|
John Abbotts
|
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.
|
|
Asa A. Adair
|
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.
|
|
Edward B. Addison
|
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.
|
|
Levon B. Agha-Zarian
|
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.
|
|
George N. Ahles
|
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.
|
|
Roy J. Aldritt
|
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.
|
|
Eugene J. Amaral
|
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.
|
|
Talmadge L. Ambrose
|
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.
|
|
John C. Anderson
|
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.
|
|
William Anderson
|
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.
|
|
|