Joseph P. Celauro
JOSEPH P. CELAURO, born January 9, 1922
in Jersey City, New Jersey. He
graduated from the Stevens Institute Industries
School in 1948. After Pearl Harbor, he
enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in December
1942 and trained in the Southeast Training
Command in class of 44-E., graduating and
commissioned at Napier Field, Dothan, Alabama.
Upon completion of P-47 training in
the States, he was transferred to European
Theater of Operations and assigned to the
"Orange Tails," 358th Fighter Group,
365th Fighter Squadron mid-winter 1944-
45. He flew 56 missions with the Fighter-
Bomber attacking airfields, armored vehicles,
supply trains, marshalling yards, bridges,
anti-aircraft emplacements; escorts for
medium and heavy bombers, and on a few
occasions level bombing from above overcasts
guided by ground controlled radar with
reported excellent results. For its relentless
and daring attacks and unparalled results, the
358th Fighter Group was awarded the Presidential
Unit Citation on three occasions. He
was awarded the Air Medal with 6 clusters.
In July 1945 he returned to the United
States for re-assignment and re-grouping at
La Junta, Colorado when the cessation of
hostilities with Japan cut short the move to
the Pacific Theatre of Operations.
Separated from active duty November
1945 he continued his military career with
the Active Reserves, Standby Reserves and as
a Staff Member with the Bergen County, New
Jersey Civil Defense and Disaster Control. He
retired with the rank of Major, USAFR upon
completion of 20 years service.
His civilian occupation since World War II
included Reliability and Quality Assurance
positions with companies manufacturing
Missile Guidance systems for the Mercury,
Gemini, and Apollo programs, Infra-red Missile
Guidance System for the F-4 aircraft and
Infra-red Night Observation Devices. In May
1971 he joined the Clay Adams Division,
Becton Dickinson, Inc. as Engineering
Administrator for Research and Development.
Now a life member, he has been with the
P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association since it
was organized in 1962. He was married in in
September 1948 and has two children Paul
and Linda.
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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