Presentation Date: January 28, 2010
CAPT Archie F. "Lin" Maltbie USAAF
WWII P-47 Thunderbolt Combat Pilot, ETO: Normandy, Battle of the Bulge
388th FS, 365th FG “HELL HAWKS”, 9th Air Force
* Born October 17th, 1923 in Anthony, KA; raised on a nearby farm until age 13
* Moved with family to California; graduated from Turlock High School in 1941
* Began working at Douglas Aircraft in El Segundo, helping build the famous SBD Dauntless dive bomber
* Enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 19th birthday and called-up in January 1943
* Placed in group of Aviation Cadets, then after basic training, selected for Pilot Training at Maxwell Field, AL
* Graduated with pilot wings and 2nd LT commission from Advanced Flight Training School in Marianna, FL, Class 43K, in December 1943
* Gunnery training at Pensacola, FL; P-40 flight time at Marietta, GA, then to Perry, FL for transition and combat training in P-47s
* April 1944 sent to Camp Kilmer, NJ for overseas processing to combat duty
* Left NYC Harbor aboard the Queen Mary, along with 10,000 others, arriving in Scotland April 1944
* After ETO orientation, assigned to the 388th FS, 365th FG (the HELL HAWKS!) in the 9th Air Force, flying the mighty P-47 Thunderbolt
* First combat mission May 1, 1944 from England, then moved to ALG 7 near Omaha Beach on June 27th, flying off metal mat landing strip build under fire
* Promoted to 1st LT and Flight Leader in July 1944, then to CAPT and Assistant Operations Officer in March 1945
* Shot down a Luftwaffe Me-109 on August 19th, 1944—debris from which resulted in his forced parachute jump and 10 days of evading behind enemy lines
* Two (2) confirmed aerial victories, 98 combat missions
* Awards and decorations include the DFC, Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster
* Returned to USA (Boston) aboard Liberty Ship “William & Mary” in Sept.1945
* Achieved MAJ and LT COL promotions while in the Air Force Reserves
* Earned BS in Pharmaceutical Science from USC; active pharmacist 35 years, including ownership of two independent pharmacies
* Wife Joan (married in London in December 1944); two sons: John and Roger
* Avid golfer, still playing, and a true patriot! *