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Charles D. Mohrle
CHARLES D. MOHRLE, born April
12, 1921 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
grew up in Galveston, Texas and attended the
University of Texas. Following Pearl Harbor
he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet and was
commissioned with the class of 43.E at Moore
Field, Mission, Texas.
First assigned to the fighter base at Sarasota, Florida flying P-40's and later transferred
to the 405th Fighter Group, 510th Squadron at Walterboro, South Carolina. Initially
equipped with P-39's, the unit got its P-47's
two months before assignment to the 9th Air
Force in England.
Based at Christchurch, he flew bomber
escort, interdiction and dive bomb missions
until Normandy D-Day. After the invasion,
the 405th crossed the Channel to a strip near
St. Mer Eglise on the Cherbourg Peninsula.
Flying close support to the 3rd Army, the
unit moved across France. In the course of
his 97 missions, Charles destroyed numerous
tanks and other motorized weaponry along
with rail equipment, bridges, artillery,
ammunition dumps and personnel.
Near Manheim, Germany, his P-47 took
88mm direct hits in the left wing and engine.
As might be expected of a Jug, the "Touch of
Texas" kept flying despite the loss of three
cylinders, a huge portion of wing and a
hydraulic fluid fire. Without injury to its
pilot, the Jug was landed on one wheel in a
dirt field behind Allied lines. And on twelve
other missions his P-47 absorbed direct hits
from ground fire, plus a collection of small
arms ammunition that was removed from the
ship.
Returning to the States, he was assigned to
the air-to-air gunnery school at Yuma, Arizona where he flew target fighters and checked
out in several bombers. Flying an RP-63, he
was shot down by 30 caliber fire from a B-17,
landing dead-stick without injury or aircraft
damage.
The 405th received a Presidential Unit
Citation. Charles was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 15
clusters.
Released from duty in 1945, as a captain,
he entered the graphic arts field, eventually
owning an advertising agency in Dallas, Tex-
as. He married Dorothy Onley in 1948 and
has one son, Charles Michael.
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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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