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Joseph A Morris
 Born Dec 08, 1911, Alva Wyoming
Parents: Stephen Morris & Mary Seeley (the Alva school teacher)
Steve Morris was killed by lightning on June 30 1912 near Brodus Montana, some 6 months after Joe was born. After Joe's father was killed, Joe's mother remarried on Dec. 22, 1915.
In school, Joe played Football (American), Basketball and Baseball. Hulett Wyo. high school (Basketball, baseball and track star). Black Hills Teacher's College (Football star).
At one time, for transportation, Joe built a 'car' from three junkers, it ran but it still lacked a windshield and brakes!
Joe grew up on a 2800 acre ranch near Alva Wyoming. Joe worked on the ranch for his step-father before he enlisted.
He was married to Bernice Lown on 4-8-1935
Also serving in WWII, Joe had two nephews and two half brothers.
Joe was determined to join the Air Force. (Army Air Corps) His desire to fly airplanes was his goal in life. While yet in High School, he approached Clyde Ice, the owner and director of the Belle Fourche S. Dak. Air Field, about jumping out of a plane with a parachute. Clyde agreed to let Joe do it at the July fourth celebration. When Joe appeared and was ready for the jump, Clyde tried to dissuade him, realizing the risk. One of his excuses was it would cost $5.00, which Joe didn't have as that was "real money" in those days. Harry Turner (Joe's future brother-in-law) stepped forward with the five and Clyde relented and Joe made the jump. Not knowing how to maneuver the chute, he survived with only a skinned cheek.
In 1933 he hitch hiked all the way to Louisiana (about 1500 miles) to enlist and
become a pilot. He found that he needed more college credits, so he hitch hiked
back, and resumed school at Black Hills Teacher's College.
After acquiring the necessary credits, he hitched hiked back and entered the Army Air Corps. in 1934.
At Wheeler Field, Hawaii, he was assigned to and CO of the 18th Pursuit Group, 19th Pursuit Sq. On the morning of Dec 7, 1941, Joe was at home with his wife when Japan attacked. After having his wife take shelter in the bath tub, he rushed to the airfield only to find his aircraft destroyed. It was three days before he was able to return home to his wife. His wife Bernice later told of looking out their window and seeing the Japan pilots flying over in their Zeros with grins on their faces.
Early on in 1942 he went on to commander training.
Officially the 353rd was born, at Mitchel Field, New York on September 29, 1942. Its first officers and enlisted men started checking in on October 2, 1942 at Richmond Army Air Base in Virginia under the command of Major Joseph A. Morris.
Comprised the 350th, 351st and 352nd Fighter Squadrons flying P-47c Thunderbolts. The group deployed to Britain in June 1943 and went operational in August. At that time, it was only the fourth FG of the mighty 8th Air Force. ORIGINALLY BASED AT Goxhill in Lincolnshire, the 353rd moved to Metfield, Suffolk, in August 1943. For most of that time, the group's call sign was "Slybird" a concept it embraced proudly.
 In July 1943, Lt Col Joseph A Morris went on missions with Zemke's 56th Fighter Group.
On August 16, 1943 :
The B-17s bombing Le Bourget were escorted on Penetration from Fécamp to Elbeuf by the 353rd Fighter Group. This necessitated moving the 353rd FG from Thorney Island for re-fuelling prior to the mission. 4th, 56th and 78th Fighter Groups, using long-range belly-tanks and spaced five minutes apart, gave General-Support to the bombers from Elbeuf to the target, to the vicinity of Bernay, where the bombers were picked up and escorted on the Withdrawal by R.A.F. Spitfires IX. The 353rd FG, as a result of engagements with enemy aircraft, claimed one FW 190 destroyed, one Me 109 probably destroyed and one FW 190 damaged, for the loss of one P-47 and its pilot.
US 65th FW 351st Sqn. 16 P-47 Thunderbolt 08.26-10.10 Ramrod 203 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 1 Cat.Em Me 109s H-BS: Paris Area
Cat.Em 16.08.43 Lt.Col. Joseph A. Morris: KIA 353rd FG HQ Flt. P-47D-1 YJ - Last seen N. Paris
Claim 16.08.43 Lt.Col. J.A. Morris 353rd Group HQ Flt. 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 09.30 ca: N.W. Paris
Enemy Opposition: Excellent fighter support kept such E/A as there were busy, with result that few attacks were made.
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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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