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Albert L. Hagg, Jr.
ALBERT L. HAGG, JR., born June
9, 1924 in Dallas, Texas. After graduating
from high school, Al enlisted as an aviation
cadet in 1942; assigned Class 43K for Pre-Flight Training Santa Ana, California; primary flight training Rankin Field, Tulare,
California, soloing in Boeing's PT-17 's;
Basic Flight Training in BT-15's at Lemoore
Field, California; Advanced Flight Training
in AT-6's at Luke Field, Phoenix, Arizona;
graduation and commissioned in January,
1944. R.T.U. was at Hardin Field, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana in the Republic P-47. Combat assignment to European Theater with the
Ninth Air Force in England to the 412th
Fighter Squadron, 373rd Fighter Group in
May, 1944:, just in time for the invasion of
the Continent.
Al flew his first mission on D-Day, June 6,
while only 19 years old, and for about six
months was the youngest pilot in his group.
From then until the end of the war in Europe
he flew 72 missions in the "Jug". He worked
one month with Operations at Tactical Headquarters and another month as Forward Air
Controller in a Sherman Tank with the 8th
Armored Division. He is credited with one
and one-half enemy aircraft destroyed in the
Air. He was awarded six Battle Stars on his
European Theater Badge, with Presidential
Unit Citation, a Belgian Fouragere, an Air
Medal with 12 Clusters and the Distinguished
Flying Cross. At the end of the war in Europe,
the 373rd Group was to return to the states
for a leave then reassignment to the Pacific,
but the war terminated while Al was on leave
and a short time later he was discharged.
Attained a BBA in Accounting at Southern
Methodist University. Married in 1950.
Recalled to active duty for the Korean War
with Troop Carrier Unit at Hensley Field,
Texas, transferred to the 137th Fighter
Group, flying F-84's based at Alexandria,
Louisiana and Chaumont, France. Discharged in April, 1953.
Al has been a pilot with American Airlines
for 26 years. He qualified on the Convair
240, DC-6, DC-7, Lockheed Electra, Boeing
727 and now flies the Boeing 707. He is
married to Joy Dabney of Atlanta and has 3
children and 2 stepchildren: Robert, a physicist at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston;
Richard, in Art school in New York; Vicki
Vicars, a dental hygienist in Dallas; Valerie
Vicars at North Texas State University, Denton, Texas; and Karen at Stephen F. Austin in
Nacogdoches, Texas.
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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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