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P47 Pilots Biographies, Last Name Starting With "R"
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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Edwin D. Reinhardt
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While glide
bombing a tunnel, I received a direct hit in
my right wing which knocked off the 1000
pounder, tore out three guns and knocked me
into an inverted position in the Seine river
banks. I completed the roll, jettisoned the left
wing bomb and struggled to keep it flying and
get some altitude. Dick Keywan spotted me
trying to maintain flight (they thought I had
had the course when they saw the flash from
the hit) and Hal Miller and Col. Duncan
silenced the 88s and 40 mm gun emplacements which were still firing at the "cripple."
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Goulart P. Renato
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In October 7, arrived in Italy where first
Brazilian Fighter was under Command of
350th Fighter Gp. His combat baptism happened November. He flew 93 missions
through VE Day destroying supply routes,
ammunition depots, bridges, railroads, close
support attacks on tanks and artillery. In the
day before the end of the operations, at his
last mission, he was downed by 20 mm
ground fire, bailed out and landed near
Ferrara.
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Leo J. Reuther III
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Lee Reuther flew 142 combat missions,
leading attacks on enemy troops, air fields,
trains, tanks, artillery, ammunition depots,
supply routes, bridges and railroads. In January of 1945, he was shot down by enemy ground fire, and crash landed in the Burma
jungle behind enemy lines. An American L-5
pilot rescued him in the face of advancing
Japanese troops.
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John Reynolds
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He shot
down 4 ea, all FW-190's. He was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal
with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters. His unit, the
373rd, was also awarded the Presidential
Unit Citation, the French Croix de Guerre
and the Belgium Fourragere, in addition to
numerous other citations. Released from
active duty in October 1945, he resumed his
career with Westinghouse. In 1948 he joined
the 707th AAA Gun Battalion of the Pennsylvania National Guard and on August 14,
1950 was recalled to active duty for 2 years
during the Korean War.
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Robert H. Rice
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....assigned to the European Theatre of operations with the 358th Fighter Group, 366th Fighter Squadron in April 1944, and flew 99
escort and close support missions (mostly
close support) through March 1945. He
destroyed a few locomotives, RR cars, bridges, gun positions, vessels and barges, horse drawn vehicles, trucks, tanks and 4 enemy
aircraft. He was awarded 2 Distinguished
Flying Crosses and the Air Medal with 17 Oak
Leaf Clusters.
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Robert V. Richards
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After Replacement Depot at
Stone, he and three other shave tails started
chasing the 373rd, beginning at Rothchild
Estate in Paris, and on to Braunschweig
before finding them at R-12 in Illesheim.
Just in time to get some flying time in our
Jug, riding time on the 40 and 8, and poker
time on the USS West Point (SS America).
The 373rd was stateside for their 30 day
Recuperation, Recovery, and Rehabilitation
Leave when VJ Day came along, and for Bob,
instead of Sioux Falls, P-47N's, and the
Pacific, it was 12 hours in the Jug at Goldsboro, N.C. and OUT!! So much for about 300 Jug hours. War ain't all hell!
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Vernon B. Ritchey
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Participant in first college Civilian Pilot
Training (CPT) program obtaining private
pilots license in 1939. Commenced military
service as Aviation Cadet in Class 43K but
accelerated and commissioned 2nd Lt. in
Class 43J
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Paul Rizzo
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Major
Rizzo states, "the P47 was a solid, sturdy
airplane, easy to fly and performed good. She
gave a pilot a feeling of security. The P47
proved itself in World War II."
He taught Aviation Mechanics in New
York City serving 30 years. He flew a Grumman Widgeon to remote lakes in the Canadian Bush. At times he and his fishing party were
the first United States Americans some of the
Canadian natives had seen.
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W. H. "Robbie" Roberson
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His first assignment was in P-47's with the
327th Ftr. Gp. Richmond, Va. He was made
an instructor after 19 hours 50 minutes in
the "Jug" and served the next 16 months at
RAAB and Dover, Del. He was re-assigned to
the 324th Ftr. Gp. 314th Ftr. Sqdn. In
France, Jan. 1945 where he joined former
schoolmate "Doc" Morgan and childhood
buddy John V. Jones, flying 50 missions
prior to V.E. day.
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James F. Roberts
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bomber
version of the P51A. Participated in N.
Africa, Sicily, and Italy campaigns flying
dive bombing, strafing, and close support
attacks on tanks, docks, and supply lines as
well as flying cover for Sicily and Italy
invasions. Completed 59 missions. He was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and
Air Medal with six clusters. Commissioned in
the field Sept., 1943.
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