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Contact Info
Home Town Lexington, Kentucky
Last Address Louisville, Kentucky
Date of Passing Jul 26, 2012
Location of Interment Cave Hill Cemetery - Louisville, Kentucky
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
General Ardery was Squadron Commander of the 564th Bomb Squadron, of the 389th Bomb Group during Operation Tidal Wave on August 1, 1943. For his actions he was awarded the Silver Star and one of two Distingished Flying Cross medals. Before joining he had attended the University of Kentucky and Harvard Law School and was a practicing lawyer when he joined. He was given a reserve commison of 1st Lt in the Infantry in July of 1940. He entered active duty in in September of 1940 and he applied to flight training with the Air Corps in April of 1941. He was assigned to fly B-24 aircraft in late 1941. Early in his service he flew antisubmarine patrols between California and Hawaii and served as an instructor pilot in Texas. By August of 1942 he was a Captain and Squadron Commander of the 564th Bomb Squadron. By November of 1943 he was promoted to Major. By the end of the war he was a Lt Col. He completed 30 missions, including 4 on D Day; and returned to the US. In 1946 he helped form the Kentucky Air National Guard and was its first commander at the rank of Colonel. During his time with the Air Guard he flew a number of aircraft including the F-51 fighter and the F-86. His unit, the 123rd Fighter Group, was deployed to England during the Korean War. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General USAFR in 1955 and served as AF Liason to the Air Guard. He was promoted to Major General USAFR in April 1962 at the same time Barry Goldwater recieved his Major General rank. He officially retired from the Air Force in 1974. His last assignment was in the office of Air Force Information at the Pentagon. He is also the author of several books including "Bomber Pilot"."
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 * Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) * Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m) * Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) * Wing area: 235 ft� (21.83 m�) * Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg) * Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Packard Merlin V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp (1,265 kW) * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163 * Drag area: 3.80 ft� (0.35 m�) * Aspect ratio: 5.83
Performance
* Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) * Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h) * Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h) * Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks * Service ceiling 41,900 ft (12,770 m) * Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s) * Wing loading: 39 lb/ft� (192 kg/m�) * Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg) * Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6 * Recommended Mach limit 0.8
Armament
* 6 � 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns; 400 rounds per gun for the two inboard guns; 270 per outboard gun * 2 hardpoints for up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) * 10 � 5 in (127 mm) rockets
Specifications
* A-36A Apache - Dive bomber (US Army) * F-6 - US Army offshoots model * F-6A - US Army offshoots model * F-6C - Reconnaissance variant * P-51A - More powerful powerplant; 4 x machine guns. * P-51B - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51C - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51D - Classic variant; most produced. * P-51H - Lighter airframe version * P-51K - Featuring an Aeroproducts propeller. * F-51 - Redesignated to "Fighter" in the new jet fighter age. * F-6K - Reconnaissance version of P-51K
