If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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"."
Indeed, were it not for the noise, the relentless hurricane-force wind sometimes mixed with bullets of rain in the face, the occasional bug in the mouth, the near impossibility of communication, the danger of hypothermia, the unshielded exposure to the sun's deadly gamma rays, the non-existent baggage space, the low-pressure airflow over the cockpits that can suck out charts and papers, the dismal forward visibility, and its otherwise shameless impracticality, an open-cockpit biplane might just be the most ideal aircraft ever conceived - surely the most magnificent of all of man's wondrous machines. Author Unknown
The PT-13 was typical of the biplane primary trainer used during the late 1930s and WW II. Whereas it was powered by a Lycoming engine, the same airplane with a Continental engine was designated the PT-17, and with a Jacobs engine, the PT-18. A later version which featured a cockpit canopy was designated the PT-27.
Of 10,346 Kaydets ordered for the U.S. and its Allies, 2,141 were PT-13s for the AAF. Following WW II, the Kaydet was phased out in favor of more modern trainers.
SPECIFICATIONS Span: 32 ft. 2 in. Length: 24 ft. 10 in. Height: 9 ft. 2 in. Weight: 2,717 lbs. loaded Armament: None Engine: Lycoming R-680 of 220 hp.. Cost: $11,000
PERFORMANCE Maximum speed: 125 mph. Cruising speed: 104 mph. Range: 450 miles Service Ceiling: 14,000 ft.
