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Charles E. Rowe
CHARLES E. ROWE, born March
10, 1917 in New Albany, Indiana. His father
Otto Rowe and mother Sallie Sherman Rowe.
Graduated from Corydon, Indiana High
School 1934, University of Kentucky
School of Pharmacy 1938 with B.S. Ph Degree.
Played sax and clarinet in dance band
during college years and until entering service. Completed Civilian Pilot Training Course and received private pilots license in June 1941. (Flew PiperCub J-3).
Entered service as Aviation Cadet January 16, 1942 at Fort Knox, Ky. Reported to Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Ala. For pre-flight training January 17, 1942. Reported, to Bennetsville, S.C., on April 30, 1942 for
primary flight training in PT-17's. Next,reported to Shaw Field, Sumter, S.C., for basic training in BT-13's (Vultee Vibrator).
Then reported to Spence Field, Moultrie,
Ga., on September 6, 1942 for advanced
flight training in AT-6's. Graduated and
received wings and 2nd Lt. Commission on
November 10, 1942. Reported to Dale-Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Fla., on November
10, 1942 for Fighter Pilot Training in P-47's. Assigned to 312th Fighter Squadron, 338thFighterGroup 3rd FighterCommand.
Completed R.T.U. Fighter Pilot Training
March 23, 1943. Squadron alerted for overseas assignment April 1943. Orders cancelled due to intelligence leak concerning overseas assignments. Promoted to 1st
Lt. at Long Beach AAB on August 30, 1943.
Transferred to Morrison Field, West Palm
Beach, Fla., May 8, 1944 for overseas assignment. Reported to 9th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 10th Air Force at Sylhet, India on June 15, 1944. Transferred to 6th Ferry Group, 14th Ferry Squadron, Long Beach,California, May 1943. On first trip, delivered C-47 to Fairbanks, Alaska to Russians
complete with Jeep, Trailer and other equipment as cargo. Red Star was painted over White Star at Great Falls, Montana just prior
to flying it out of the states. Spent next year
flying P-51's from Inglewood, California to
Newark, N.J., and other destinations for
overseas deliveries. Also delivered P-47's
from Evansville, Indiana, C-47's from Douglas at Long Beach, CaJifornia etc. to various points throughout the states.
From this date to April 19, 1945 flew 281 Combat Missions. Flew daily drop missions to Mars Task Force, British Troops and Chinese and Kachins. Flew Chinese troops over CBI-Hump to Kunming and Chanyi, China. Made
seven trips home on one engine (adding to
single engine time). Promoted to flight leader
January 1945, and Captain March 1945 at
Warazup, Burma. Decorations include Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters,
Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two
campaign stars etc. Returned to states and
spent two weeks at AAF RS#2 Miami Beach,
Fla., for R&R then transferred to Atterbury
Air Force Base, Columbus, Ind., for return to
civilian status.
I married Margaret L. Aldridge of Moultrie, Ga., whom I met in Advanced Pilot
Training on January 6, 1943. Still married to this lovely lady and proud of our two children, Charles Jr. and Charlotte.
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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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