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Ralph A. Santasiero
RALPH A.SANTASIERO, born
April 1, 1921 in Long Island City, New York.
Upon graduation in 1939 from Sewanhaka
High School, Floral Park, New York, he
began to earn his livelihood. In 1940, he was
employed by Empire Trust Company in New
York City until he enlisted as an Aviation
Cadet in November, 1942. Trained in Class
43.H, he graduated and was commissioned at
Marianna, Florida. His first assignment was
the 9th Air Force flying P-47 Thunderbolts
from Christ Church, England with the 405th
Fighter Group, 51Oth Fighter Squadron. He
participated in the first flights on the "D-Day
Invasion" June 6, 1944 and was later stationed with the same group on Cherbourg at Ste. Mare Eglise and St. Dizier, France. He
flew 77 missions including escort, dive bombing, close support, destruction of railroads, ammunition dumps, bridges, tanks, artillery,
anti-aircraft and enemy airfields. He was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and
the Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Released from active duty October, 1945
as a 1st Lt. he resumed his banking career
with Empire Trust Company. In 1947 he
attended New York University evenings
graduating in 1951 with a B.S. Degree in
Banking and Finance just in time to be
recalled to active duty in the Reserves May,
1951. He was assigned to the 5th Air Force
in Korea with the 12th Fighter Squadron of
the 18th Fighter Wing. As a Captain and
retread he flew P-51 D's for 100 missions - close support and ground target destruction much like that of World War II. He was
awarded a Cluster to the D.F.C. and 4 additional Clusters to the Air Medal.
Released from active duty in 1952, he
again resumed his banking career and is
presently a Vice President of J. Henry
Schroder Bank & Trust Company in New
York, New York. He married Dorothy Sherry
in 1946 and has three children, Barbara,
Ralph, Jr., and Dorothy.
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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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