Leonard Andrew Charpentier, MD
LEONARD ANDREW CHARPENTIER, M.D., born on October 21,1920 at Newark, N.J., the second of six
children. He graduated from high school in
Keyport, N.J. and became a newspaper
reporter. In 1939 he started pre-medical
schooling at Springfield College in Massachusetts, dropping out in early 1942 after the debacle at Pearl Harbor to enlist as an Aviation Cadet.
He received his wings and commission at
Selma, Alabama in the class of 43-C and went
on to fighter O.T.U. in the 304th Fighter
Squadron, 3rd Air Force, Pinellas AFB in
Florida. He flew P-40's and P-51's as an
instructor until June, 1944 when he was
ordered to the Mediterranean Theatre with
the 85th, then the 86th, Fighter Squadrons
of the 79th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force.
Here he began his love affair with the JUG.
Charpentier flew 29 missions, over northern Italy,and southern France, against bridges, railroads, artillery, supply routes and
enemy armour as well as escort missions with
B-25's and B-26's. On August 29. 1944.
while strafing an armoured column near
Valence. France. Charpentier was shot down
by ground fire. He underwent major surgery
by German doctors who then abandoned the
field hospital several days later. Cared for by
French patriots until the position was taken
by American ground forces he was then
returned to Naples and from there was transferred to the Zone of the Interior in November 1944. He was awarded the Purple
Heart. DFC and Air Medal.
When he was discharged as a Captain in
March1945 Charpentier resumed his pre-medical schooling. and entered Boston University School of Medicine in 1948. After
graduating with an M.D. he interned in
Miami, Florida. and completed his residency
in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Galveston, Texas in 1956.
Dr. Charpentier is at present in the practice of his specialty in Galveston. Texas. And is Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals. He married Gwendolyn Lee Stratton in 1954 and is the father of two children, Lawrence and Alicia.
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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