|
Harry K. Powell
HARRY K. POWELL, born May 13,
1924 in Akron, Ohio. After entering Purdue
University in 1942, enlisted in the Aviation
Cadet Reserve and was called to active duty in
early 1943. As a member of class 44-C
graduated from Spence Field, Moultrie,
Georgia. After training in P-40's joined the
79th Fighter Group, 85th Fighter Squadron
of the 12th Air Force, flying P-47's from
Corsica participated in the invasion of southern France. He flew 81 missions through VE-day destroying tanks, trucks, railroad
trains and bridges. Also escorted bombers,
cut rail lines and attacked enemy airfields. In
one day flew three missions against the airfield at Udine, Italy. Participated in six campaigns - Rome-Arno, Southern France,
Germany, Air Combat-Balkans, North
Appennines and Po Valley. Received the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal
with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Released from active duty December 25,
1945, as a Captain, he returned to Purdue
University.. Was graduated in June 1949
with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering.
Upon graduation went to work for the Air
Force as a Research and Development Engineer at Wright Field. At the same time
became a member of the Ohio Air Guard
flying P-51's. At Wright Field performed
wind tunnel tests on new aircraft designs and
helped set up the six inch and two foot
supersonic wind tunnels. Later he was lead
airframe engineer for the F-86, B-47 and
B-52. After a number of years as a group
leader of the Engineering Staff he became the
Chief Engineer for the Advanced Tanker
Cargo Aircraft, KC-10.
A life member of the P-47 Thunderbolt
Pilots Association, he is retired now and lives
in Cape Coral, Florida. He was married to Charlotte Elliott in 1949 and has one son Harry W. who is a private pilot.
|
Pilot Name
|
Biography Summary
|
|
Asa A. Adair
|
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.
|
|
John C. Anderson
|
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.
|
|
W.B. 'Tex' Badger
|
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.
|
|
Robert T. (Bob) Bagby
|
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.
|
|
Frank Baker
|
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.
|
|
John M. Balason
|
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.
|
|
Albert W. Barlow, Jr.
|
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.
|
|
William T. Beckler
|
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.
|
|
Herbert R. Benson
|
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.
|
|
Marvin C. Bigelow
|
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.
|
|
|