Stephen Ananian was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1922, in New York City. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces on December 14, 1942, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program on February 20, 1943. Ananian was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on March 12, 1944. After completing flight training, Lt Ananian was assigned to the 505th Fighter Squadron of the 339th Fighter Group in Europe, where he flew the P-51 Mustang. During his 64 combat missions in Europe, he was credited with destroying one Me 262 jet fighter and damaging two others in aerial combat, as well as three aircraft on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. Lt Ananian left active duty on August 8, 1945, and then worked for 35 years in the photoengraving industry. In retirement, Stephen served as President of the 339th Fighter Group Association for 8 years, and editor of the Association's newsletter for 17 years. Stephen Ananian died on June 28, 2017, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.