Andrew J. Osborne
ANDREW J. OSBORNE (Andy),
born 14 March, 1922 in Wichita, Kansas,
attended the Wichita School System,
graduating 1942. Applied for pilot training
in U,S, Army Air Corps, was accepted and
shipped to Southeast Training Command.
Graduated 2nd Lt. from Marianna Field,
Florida, in Class 43-J.
Assigned to 5th Air Force, under General
George Kenney, to 58th Fighter Group,
69th Sqdn. His first flight in the theater was
out of Port Moresby, New Guinea, where he
flew with the outfit for 110 missions, 300
hours of combat and 9 major battles. . .
touching places like Noemfoor, Weiwak, Hollandia, Rabaul, Leyte, Mindoro, Luzon, Okinawa and Japan. Returned to l-1 shortly
after the Jap Surrender Party arrived at
IeShima.
First duty assignment after the war was
Goodfellow Field, Texas where he was
ground and flight instructor for Chinese
Cadets in B-25's. Separated from the service
shortly thereafter.
Returned to Wichita and attended Wichita
State University, majoring in engineering.
While going to school, he ferried new Cessna's to the west coast. Terminated college in
1949, got married and joined Boeing-Wichita, as a draftsman. Signed up with the
127th Fighter Sqdn., KANG., flying P-51D's, acquiring some 500 hours.
Early in the 1950's the 127th phased into
the F -84C's, and went on active duty, ending
up in Korea (K.2, Taegu) where he flew 50
combat missions. The rest of Andy's active
duty tour was spent at Itazuki Air Force Base
in Japan, flying engineering test flights on
F -84 's. He was rotated back to the States and
returned to Air Guard status in Wichita in
1952, where he checked out in the F-80's.
Also resumed his job at Boeing.
In 1954, he returned to active duty and
attended Aircraft Maintenance Officers
School in Chanute Field, Illinois. He then
changed his MOS from fighter pilot to maintenance officer.
In 1963, after 20 years' service, Andy
retired from the KANG as Captain. He is
employed at Beech Aircraft in Wichita as a
wind tunnel model designer.
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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