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Kenneth D. Scheiwe
KENNETH D. SCHEIWE, Ken's
"other life" began November 3,1941 when he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet.
Kenneth D. Scheiwe, born November 20, 1920 was a student at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
He graduated from Kelly Field in class 42-F. Twenty-four classmates, assigned Bridgeport, Conn., were to become members of the legendary 56th FG. Robert S. Johnson was to become almost as well known as the "Jug." Randolph Field roommates, "L.C." Smith and Dick Mudge were among this select group.
Ken, reporting at Philadelphia, Pa. was assigned to the 324th FG, 315th FS, equipped with P-40's.
The twenty-five pilots of the 315th FS left for Africa March, 1943, from Miami, courtesy Pan-American Airways. At Lagos, Nigeria each was assigned a new P-40. Landing strips with romantic names like
Maduguri, Kano, Ft. Lamy, EI Fasher, EI Genina, Khartoum, Aswan and finally Cairo.
Ken flew his first combat with the 79FG, 85th FS over Libya and Tunisia, in support of General Montgomery.
The 324th FG, from Tunisia, flew Bomber Escort missions over Sicily. Then it was to Italy with dive bombing and strafing missions. By May, 1944 Lt. Scheiwe had flown 162 missions and was returned stateside for a 30 day leave.
There was a wedding. The marriage has endured to this date.
Ken returned to the 324thFG at Ghisonaccia, Corsica. The P-40's had been replaced with
P-47's. The 324th moved into Southern France in support of the U.S. 7th Army. Train "busting" was big. Ken served
successively as CO of the 316th and 315th FS's, and became a Major.
He completed 218 combat missions. He was credited with destroying three enemy
aircraft - two ME 109's while flying P- 40's. His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Croix de Guerre.
Before his leave expired in October, 1945, he was back on campus, as a student, at Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In "real life" Ken was an F.B.I. Agent. He is retired and living at Ft. Pierce, Fla. Only the people who knew him in his "other life" call him "Deke."
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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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