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William D. Dunbar (Billy)
WILLIAM D. DUNBAR (BILLY),
born 12/21/22 - Le Grande, Oregon, Education - BA - education - university of
Nebraska at Omaha, General Secondary
Teaching Credential - State of California.
Family Data - Married to Gloria Darlene -
Children one son William Jr.; two daughters
- Stephanie and Jeanne and two grandsons.
I flew 214 combat hours in the P-47 with
a total of 78 combat missions in the E.T.0.
396th FTR SQ 368th FTR Group 9th A.F.
My first sortie was on 10-2-44 and the last
5-9-45.
One of my most memorable flying experiences was the mission of 23 Dec. 44 near
Kobleny Germany. A group of Martin B-26's
were jumped by thirty odd FW-190's and
Me-l09's. Our squadron was on a recce
mission and we happened along at the right
time. Three B-26's were hit and going down
when we entered the fight. I was rolling out
of a turn when I spotted a FW-190 shooting
"hell" out of a jug. I was able to give him a
short burst and got strikes at the wing root
area. He burst into flames and went down. I
then escorted the crippled P-47 back to our
base. We had a great day, we claimed 13 of
the enemy destroyed and we lost one P-47.
I left the service in Dec. '45 and was
recalled in Oct. 52. I was in Sac for 15 years
"passing gas" to bombers and fighters around
the world. I flew sixty tanker missions out of
Thailand in support of the fighters in Viet
Nam.
Total flying time 5500 hours. Types of
Aircraft flown in my career P-40, P-47,
P-51, T-29, KC-97, KC-135, T-39.
I retired from the Air Force 1 July 70
Rank of Lt. Col. Medals: 1. DFC, 2. Air Medal
14 0LC, 3. Meritorious Service Medal, 4. Air
Force Commendation Medal 20LC, 5. Belgium Crois De Guerre.
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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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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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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W.B. 'Tex' Badger
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Eight and Ninth Air Force in WWII. B-l7's, P-51's and P-47's. Fifth Air Force in Korea, F80's and F86's. WWII and Korea, Flew 156 missions. Tactical units served in with the USAAF and USAF were: 305th BG , 368th Fighter Group, 4th Fighter Group, 49th Fighter Group, 12th Fighter Wing, 506th Fighter Wing.
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Robert T. (Bob) Bagby
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He trained in P47's at Cross City and Dale Mabry Fields, Florida and then joined the 341st FS Black Jack Squadron), 348th FG of the 5th AF in Brisbane, Australia in June 1943. Bob flew 78 combat missions in New Guinea (Port Moresby, Finchafen, Sador, Wakde and Biak) primarily as wingman to squadron CO's John Campbell and John Moore. Also privileged to fly wing to Neil Kirby on several occasions.
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Frank Baker
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After brief stops at Stone and Atcham, England he joined the 313th Fighter Squadron of the 50th Fighter Group in France. He flew 90 missions through V.E. Day. Most of the missions were close support attacks on various ground targets with a few B-26 escort missions thrown in. All of the missions took place in eastern France and southern Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters.
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John M. Balason
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To relieve the boredom, Balason went down on the deck and blew up a locomotive
he had observed at altitude. A few seconds after making his strafing pass he received a hit in his left wing tank and a fire started immediately in the cockpit. The paralyzing effect of the intense heat made climbing out of the cockpit impossible.
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Albert W. Barlow, Jr.
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He flew 69 escort and ground support missions. Destroyed one E/A (ME-I09). Was shot down on Sept. 8, 1944, and evaded enemy ground forces for 8 days. Was picked up by an American Recon. Unit behind the German lines. Was hospitalized until Feb. 1948, when he was medically retired with the rank of Capt. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and Purple Heart.
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William T. Beckler
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In July, 1944 Beckler exchanged his P-40 for a P-47N Thunderbolt. Missions in the Jug covered Northern Italy and Southern France. These included escorting medium bombers. The Bombers, based in Southern Italy, would be escorted to France by Thunderbolts based on Corsica. Shortly before target the Jugs would pull ahead of the bombers and bomb the enemy gun positions.
Beckler's activities while participation in three major campaigns earned him the DFC, two Air Medals and two Presidential citations.
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Herbert R. Benson
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After training in P-47 Thunderbolts at bases in North Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware, he was
assigned to the European Theatre of operations and joined the 48th Fighter Group
493rd Fighter Squadron at St. Trond, Belgium. After flying 44 combat missions, he was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf clusters.
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Marvin C. Bigelow
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Training in the Southeast Training Command with the class of 44C, he graduated and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant single engine pilot at Marianna, Florida with the class of
44D. After checking out in the P-40 at Marianna, he transitioned in the P-47 in the Northeast Defense Command and after gunnery at Dover, Delaware was shipped on the Queen Mary to England.
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