Frank Gaylord Smith
FRANK GAYLORD SMITH, born
October 20, 1923 in Metropolis, Ill. He
graduated from Harlem High School, Rockford, Ill., enlisted in the Army Air Corps, Aviation Cadet program in early 1943. He
received his Pilots Wings and Commission at
Luke AFB, Phoenix, Ariz., class of 1944-D.
He received P-47 flight training at Wendover, Utah, prior to combat assignment with the 366th Fighter Group, 389th Fighter
Squadron, 9th Air Force.
He flew 70 missions with the 389th,
bombing, rocket attacks, and strafing strategic targets hampering the advancement of ground forces, such as tanks, troops, armored
supply columns, artillery, Command and
Communications centers. Other missions
flown were medium bomber escort, fighter
sweeps, hitting targets of opportunity such as
trains, marshalling yards, air fields, bridges
or anything that moved.
During the Battle of The Bulge, he belly
landed behind enemy lines near St. Vith after
taking a hit from 20mm ground fire. Escape
required six days to penetrate German lines
reaching Bastogne as the surrounded American forces were being liberated by airborne landings.
He was credited with downing five enemy
aircraft and one probable. His decorations
include, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air
Medal with two Silver Clusters. European
Theater Medal with three Battle Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Belgian Fourragere.
Released from active duty Dec. 1945. he
pursued a career in aviation eventually joining Lockheed Aircraft Corp. as a Field Technical Representative in 1951. He served in
that capacity on all single engine jet fighters
produced by Lockheed and was assigned at
various times to all USAF Commands and the
Air Forces of many foreign countries
through 1969. He currently is assigned to
the US Navy P-3 and S-3 aircraft in the
management of Field Modification Programs.
He married Sarah Lewis, in 1946, and has
four children, Vicki, Diane, Scott and Clint.
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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