Stephen C. Ananian
Stephen Carnig Ananian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 25, 1922 New York City, New York |
| Died | June 28, 2017 (aged 94) Greenville, South Carolina |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Unit | 505th Fighter Squadron, 339th Fighter Group |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (12) Order of Vasa (Sweden) |
| Relations | Isabel G. Ananian (wife) |
| Other work | President of 339th Fighter Group Association |
Stephen Carnig Ananian (December 25, 1922 – June 28, 2017) was a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. During the war, Ananian flew 63 combat missions, which included air operations over Nazi Germany, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was one of the few pilots to shoot down Luftwaffe jet-powered Me-262 aircraft while flying a propeller-driven North American P-51 Mustang. Ananian's medals include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters, and the Order of Vasa by Sweden.[1]
Early life
Of Armenian descent, Ananian was born in New York City on Christmas Day in 1922. His father, Carnig Harutune Ananian, was born in the village of Chomaklou in Ottoman Empire and moved to the United States after the Hamidian massacres and became an Oriental rug salesman in Watertown, New York. His mother, Dikranouhi (Hatounian) Ananian, was also born in Chomaklou, Ottoman Empire. Stephen Ananian had two sisters, Anna and Martha, and three brothers, Harry, Garabed, and Charles.[2]
Ananian's early education started at Morris H. Weiss School in Brooklyn, New York. He attended David A. Boody Junior High School for a few months, then later Elementary School P.S. 189 in Washington Heights, New York. After his graduation from elementary school, he went to George Washington High School and graduated in 1940.[3]
Military Career
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Ananian was a student at New York University College of Engineering. The following day, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program. He was called to active service on February 3, 1943, and after completing boot camp, he began his primary flying training at Souther Field in the Stearman PT-17.
After graduating from primary training, he moved on to basic training at Greenwood, Mississippi and advanced training at Jackson, Mississippi where he flew his first fighter plane, the P-40 Warhawk. Ananian was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on March 12, 1944.[4]
World War II
After completing flight training, Ananian was assigned to the 505th Fighter Squadron of the 339th Fighter Group of the Eighth Air Force. It was based at RAF Fowlmere in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.
On his first mission on October 25, 1944, during a bomber escort mission over Münster, the P-51B Mustang he was flying was heavily damaged by flak. But he managed to fly the aircraft over the North Sea before bailing out of his damaged aircraft. He spent 20 minutes in the icy cold waters of the North Sea before being rescued by a Supermarine Walrus of RAF Search and Rescue Force. He later returned to his unit after his recovery.[5]
His best day came on February 9, 1945. During a bomber escort mission over Fulda, Germany, Ananian and his squadron mates spotted three Me-262 jet fighters coming up to attack a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses and his fighter group. Ananian closed on the lead Me-262 and putting the K-14 gunsight & M2 Browning guns of his Mustang on it. He struck the Me-262 with a deflection burst. The jet's engine caught fire and went smoking into the ground. The two other Me-262s made a quick retreat as other P-51s closed on them.[5]
This was his only aerial credit during the war. He damaged two others in aerial combat. He was also credited with destroying one and damaging three aircraft on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. [6]
"Baby Mine", coded 6N-K was his personal P-51 during his tour with 339th Fighter Group. Ananian left active duty on August 8, 1945, with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Later life
After the war, Ananian returned to the United States and married Isabel Gefairjian in 1946. They had two sons, Clifford and Stephen Jr. They also had five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ananian worked for over 35 years in the photoengraving industry and participated in the early use and development of electronic image scanners and digital processing. He was one of the founders of the St. Thomas Armenian Church in Tenafly, New Jersey and served on the parish council for ten years. He was also active in the local school district and was President of the Regional Board of Education for two years. Ananian also served as president of the 339th Fighter Group Association for eight years and editor of the quarterly newsletter for seventeen years.[7]
During WWII AirPower Expo 2016, Ananian flew in the P-51 "Gunfighter," which was the first time since 1945. [8]
Ananian was interviewed by Jeniffer Seavey of Wright State University as part of the WSU Veterans' Voices Project on October 27, 2016.[9]
Ananian died on June 28, 2017, in Greenville, South Carolina. He was predeceased by his wife Isabel, who passed away in 2009. He is buried along with his wife in Arlington National Cemetery.[10]
Awards and Decorations
Ananian's decorations include:[4][11]
Error creating thumbnail: Army Air Forces Pilot Badge
|
Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Air Medal with two silver and bronze oak leaf clusters | |
| Presidential Unit Citation with bronze oak leaf cluster | |
|
Army Good Conduct Medal |
| File:American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg | American Campaign Medal |
  |
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars |
|
World War II Victory Medal |
| File:SWE Order of Vasa - Knight 2nd Class BAR.png | Order of Vasa (Sweden) |
See also
References
- ↑ "Stephen C. Ananian †".
- ↑ Stephen C. Ananian. "Our Story" (PDF). ananian.com. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
- ↑ Stephen C. Ananian. "Our Story" (PDF). ananian.com. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Veteran Tributes". veterantributes.org.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://storage.ananian.com/pilots-tale.pdf
- ↑ Laurent, PARRA. "USA - ANANIAN Stephen C". www.cieldegloire.com.
- ↑ Stephen C. Ananian. "Our Story" (PDF). ananian.com. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
- ↑ "P-51 Pilot Stephen Ananian - The National WWII Museum - New Orleans". The National WWII Museum - New Orleans.
- ↑ C., Ananian, Stephen; Jennifer, Seavey, (21 February 2018). "Stephen Ananian Interview for the Veterans' Voices Project".
- ↑ "Stephen Carnig Ananian's Obituary on The Greenville News". The Greenville News.
- ↑ Armenian General Benevolent Union (1951). Armenian-American veterans of World War II. "Our Boys" Committee. p. 153. Search this book on
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- Recipients of the Air Medal
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- American military personnel of Armenian descent
- Military personnel from New York City
- 1922 births
- 2017 deaths
- School board members in New Jersey
- Recipients of the Order of Vasa
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
