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Robert E. Shumaker
ROBERT E. SHUMAKER, born August 16, 1918 of natural birth at Columbus, Ohio. Moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., 1927 and graduated from Langley flight School and attended the University of Pittsburgh. Always being the lucky type his World War Two draft number was the SECOND one pulled out of the old fish bowl and three weeks later was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he soon learned that there were better ways to fight the war than being strapped in a Sherman Tank. Upon passing the Air Corps Examination was transferred to the West Coast Training Command and Graduated from Luke Field, Phoenix, Arizona in Class 43-B and was immediately assigned to Howard Field, Panama Canal Zone and joined the 23rd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group 9th Air Force. Here he received training in P-39 and P-40 Type Aircraft. After the Submarine Trouble was cleared up in this area the entire 36th was moved to Mitchell Field New York for P-47 Fighter Transition, upon completion the entire 36th was loaded aboard a lovely pleasure boat and spent 14 glorious days in convoy going to Jolly Old England. Upon arrival we were stationed at Kingsnorth and ran missions across the channel into France and Germany. The 36th took an active part in the invasion of France at the Normandy Beachhead and during the first day he crossed the channel 8 times. They were among the first groups to be stationed in France flying off of tar Paper Strips before landing mats were acquired. Shumaker led flights into France and Germany and sup- plied Air Cover for General Patton’s advancing armies. He flew a total of 89 Missions consisting solely of Dive Bombing, Strafing of Air Fields, Railroad trains and Power Plants.
On one occasion returned to the field with 108 holes in the old Jug and still flying. He returned to England after the Battle of the Bulge and then back to the old USA and assigned to Waco Army Air base to instruct in Aerobatics to all Combat returnees. (Best Job in the Service). Released from Active Duty October 15, 1945 and returned to Pittsburgh, Pa. going to work for the Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. and later to Columbus, Ohio as Private Pilot for a Law Firm until opening his own Real Estate firm in Columbus.
He is married to the lovely Fran Bohman of Pittsburgh, Pa. She blessed him with two children. Susan of Columbus and Robert E. Jr. of LaMesa, California. They also have two grandchildren, Lee and Maria Fisher of Columbus.
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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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