Robert F. Nelson
ROBERT F. NELSON, born August
8, 1919 in St. Louis then crawled to California two years later. His formal education
ended at sixteen when his photoengraving
apprenticeship began. He started flying in
1938 with Waco F-2's and was issued license
No. 59113 in 1939. In 1940 he joined the
Royal Canadian Air Force and in 1942 was
court-martialed for slow rolling an aircraft in
which aerobatics were prohibited, performing them under the minimum prescribed
altitude and endangering His Majesty's Weland Lysander and Flight Sergeant Pilot Nelson. Conviction entailed a 56 day sentence to
a hard and cold military prison where the
man's attitude did change and 18 days remission were awarded for GOOD BEHAVIOR.
Thereafter, the Yank was known as "Admiral
Slow Roll, the Obedient."
Operational type aircraft flown included
Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Mustangs. Nelson flew with the 4th Fighter Group until
downed in Germany where he evaded capture for five days before POW confinement
for one year. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two clusters, the
Air Medal with three clusters and the Caterpillar Pin. His release as a Captain in 1946
was followed by a bit of college, a bit of
reserve flying and a lot of yearning for the old
time flying spirit. Current status is LT. Col.
Robert F. Nelson USAF Res. Ret.
In 1943 he was captured by a bonny
Scotch lass and fathered four sons. In 1965
the wife resumed her career as a M.D., they
divvied-up, and he gave crop dusting a shot
that fell short of economic success. He
returned to photoengraving - intermittently - for grubsteak purposes. Parachute
jumps at 49 years of age left several unfavorable impressions, like knots on the head .
Today he is happily engraving and etching
160 beer cans to publish a book, "The Art of
Etching and Gravure with Beer Cans Panty
Hose and Fish Hooks", authored by der
Sveetest 01' Buzzard in the whole damn
world, Robert F. Nelson, P-47 Thunderbolt
pilot of bygone years.
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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