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William H. Ehney
WILLIAM H. EHNEY, born March
1922, in Daytona Beach, Florida; graduated
from Miami Technical High School; and
joined the service in January, 1942. After
Basic Training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
he went in the Glider Program; graduated
Glider Pilot at Stuttgart, Arkansas in
early 1943. He joined the Aviation Cadets
May 27, 1943, and graduated in class 43.K,
December 5, 1943 and commissioned at
Napier Field, Dothan, Alabama. Entered
RTU, in P-47's Tallahassee, Florida, after
graduation. Assigned overseas duty with the
57th Fighter Group, 66th Fighter Squadron
in the Mediterranean Theater in April 1944.
The 57th was committed to "Operation
Strangle," cutting off supplies to enemy
forces in Italy. Ehney flew 90 missions
through November, dive bombing and strafing
supply routes; bridges; railroads; fuel and
ammo dumps; and close support attacks on
tanks and artillery. His aircraft, number 98,
was named for his wife, "Sweet Tina." He
Had one of the best ground crews, crew chief,
S/Sgt. F. Carman; Crewman, Sgt. M. Scrandingo; and Crewman, Sgt. W. Franklin. On
May 25, 1944, after a successful attack on a
bridge at Furbara, Italy, the flight encountered eight FW-190's. Ehney destroyed one
FW-190. He was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross, air medal with three Oak Leaf
Clusters, Mediterranean Theater Ribbon
with three Battle Stars.
Ehney was released I
om active duty February 9, 1946.
Ehney stayed in the active Reserve and was
reactivated during the Korean War. He was
stationed at Alexandria, Louisiana serving:
with the 132nd Fighter Bomber Wing,
74th Fighter Bomber Squadron and flew
T-33 and F-84 Aircraft. After release from
active duty as a Major, he was a Civilian
flight Instructor for the Air Force Primary
Flight School at Malden, Missouri for 4 1/2
years. In March, 1959, Ehney joined the
F.A.A. as an Air Traffic Controller at Memphis, Tennessee, ARTC and has been with the
FAA for 21 years. He is a member of the P-47
Thunderbolt Pilots Association.
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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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