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Fred A. Selle
FRED A. SELLE, born on a ranch near St. Anthony, Idaho, on April 3, 1921. He enlisted in the Army in Sept., 1940, and entered aviation cadet training in 1942. He trained with class
43-C, graduating and receiving his commission at Luke Field, Arizona. After checking out in
P-38's his first overseas assignment was with the 82 FG, 12AF in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, flying missions that included bomber escort; dive bombing, strafing and beach patrol. He participated in escorting the first bombing missions to Italy, the Balkans and Austria. On September 2, 1940, he was credited with the destruction of three ME 109's and damaging two in a single mission over Naples. He also flew the first mission in conjunction with the newly formed Italian Air Force.
After flying 50 missions he served as an instructor at fighter training center in North Africa, returning to the states in March, 1944, where he was assigned as an instructor in P-39's and P-63's. In October, 1944, he joined the newly formed 508 FG, 7 AF, and after checking out in P-47 's flew coastal patrol with that group in the Hawaiian Islands. In July, 1945, he was assigned to the 318 FG, 8AF, flying
P-47N's. As the war was coming to an end he was flying missions over Japan and on August 9, 1945, while on a diversionary fighter sweep witnessed the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
Released from the service in March, 1946, he returned to active duty in the Artillery branch of the US Army in 1948. After commanding a combat unit with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea he served in various tactical units in the US and Europe, retiring with the rank of Lt. Col. in July, 1963. During these periods of service he participated in ten campaigns in the ETO.AP and Korean theaters. His awards include the DFC, AM will olc, Bronze Star and DUB
w/l olc.
Since retiring from the service he has been active in ranching and real estate and served a term as Mayor of Garden City, Utah. He married Shirley Schell in 1949 and they have one son, Richard.
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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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