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Merle F. Mason
MERLE F. MASON, born January 2,
1923, in Bozeman, Montana. He grew up on
a farm near Salem, Missouri, and in August
1942, shortly after graduation from high
school, entered the Army Air Corps. He
received his wings and commission at Aloe
Army Air Field, Victoria, Texas, in August
1943. After graduation he flew P-40's,
P-39's and P-51's in various training units
until assigned to the 48th Fighter Bomber
Group, flying P-47's at Walterboro, South
Carolina.. The Group shipped to England in
February, 1944. During a year's combat
tour in the ETO Mason flew 110 combat
missions, some escort, but mostly close support, dive bombing, skip bombing and strafing missions in support of the drive from the
Normandy Beaches to Germany.
During the Battle of the Bulge, Capt.
Mason lost three wingmen to ground fire and
was himself wounded when his canopy was
shattered by anti aircraft guns. Shortly after
his return to the states he was assigned to
Command Staff School, Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas and was the youngest graduate of this
course on record.
After a two year break in service he was
recalled to active duty in November, 1948,
as an instructor in 1951. He completed a
tour in Korea assigned to the 4th Fighter
Wing, flying F-86's. With exception of a
three year tour in Alaska and a three year
tour at Headquarters Air Training Command, the rest of his career was spent training
pilots in the capacity of instructor, squadron
commander, and group commander. Included among his many awards and decorations
are the Silver Star, Purple Heart and Air
Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Lt. Col. Mason retired from active duty in
1970 and is presently living in San Antonio,
Texas with his wife Rose and youngest daughter Melanie who is a student at Texas A&M
University.
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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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