Benjamin B. Cassiday, JR.
BENJAMIN B. CASSIDAY, JR.,
born July 25, 1922, in Honolulu, son of
Harriet Lucas Cassiday of Honolulu, and first
lieutenant (later Colonel, USAF), Cassiday
of California. Educated at Culver Military
Academy, Indiana, then U.S. Military Academy,
New York, graduating in June 1943.
Flew P-40's and P-47's in training. Then
joined the 87th Fighter Squadron, 79th
Group, in Corsica in May 1944. Flew 116
missions in P-4 7's in Corsica, France, Germany,
and Italy. Squadron Commander of 87th
at war's end, but also served as Group Operations
Officer 79th for three months in early
1945. Occupied Austria from 1945 to
1947, still with the 79th and still flying
P-47's. Reassigned to the 27th Fighter
Group in Nebraska in 1947, then joined the
91st Fighter Squadron, 81st Group, in
Wheeler Field, Hawaii in late 1947, flying
P-47's. Member of the 1948 Armed Forces
Olympic Tryout Team in Texas as a 400
meter hurdler, but eliminated in the National
Finals that year. Back to F-47's in Hawaii,
then to Kirtland, New Mexico, flying F-80's
and later F-86's. Navy exchange pilot in
January 1950, flying F9F Panthers. Korea
in June 1950, flying 43 jet carrier missions
from "USS Philippine Sea," returning just in
time to complete Fox Able Nine crossing of
the Atlantic in F-86A 's with the 81st Fighter
Group. Spent three years in Bentwaters,
England, rising to Colonel and Group Commander.
Transferred to the new Air Force
Academy in 1954, as Deputy Commandant
of Cadets. In July 1959 went to 78th Fighter
Wing (F-l01 's and F-l04 's) as Deputy Commander
at Hamilton AFB, California.
National War College 1961-1962, then to
HQ USAF as Secretary of the Air Station to
Germany as Commander of the 36th Fighter
Wing in 1966, until promoted to Brig. General
in 1967, then to Turkey as advisor to the
Turkish Air Force. In 1969 became Commandant
of the Air Force ROTC program
until retirement in November 1972. Now
living in Honolulu.
Combat Data: WW II, 116 missions, all
memorable.
Decorations: Silver Star, DFC, Air Medal
with eight, Soldier's Medal with one, British
DFC, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal,
three legion of Merits.
One son, now in Honolulu as attorney, and
a married daughter in New York City.
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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