John A. Aranyos, 88, of Liberty, died Saturday, October 9, 2010, at the Center for Compassionate Care in Mount Lebanon. Born June 16, 1922, in McKeesport, he was the son of the late John and Agnes Molnar Aranyos. A retired Pennsylvania Air National Guard Brigadier General during World War II, John served his country as a fighter pilot with the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force flying the P47 Thunderbolt Fighter out of various bases in eastern England. After completing his combat tour in the European Theater of Operations, he returned to the U.S. where he continued to serve the war effort by training American bomber gunners flying a specially configured target aircraft and got shot at by new recruit gunners. He undoubtedly helped save many American Lives. His military decorations include the distinguished Flying Cross and numerous Air Medals. After World War II, he left the Air Force but continued to fly with the PA Air National Guard until his retirement as a
brigadier general. He flew many aircrafts including the P51 Mustang, F86D Sabrejet, F84F Thunderjet and the F102 Delta Dagger. John often said that the greatest moment of
his flying career came when he flew with his son, a newly winged Navy pilot, in the two seat version of the F102. Mr. Aranyos was a retired welder from the National plant, U.S. Steel Corp., with over 40 years of service, and a member of Transfiguration of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sheila Patricia Aranyos.

John A. Aranyos, 88, of Liberty, died Saturday, October 9, 2010, at the Center for Compassionate Care in Mount Lebanon. Born June 16, 1922, in McKeesport, he was the son of the late John and Agnes Molnar Aranyos. A retired Pennsylvania Air National Guard Brigadier General during World War II, John served his country as a fighter pilot with the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force flying the P47 Thunderbolt Fighter out of various bases in eastern England. After completing his combat tour in the European Theater of Operations, he returned to the U.S. where he continued to serve the war effort by training American bomber gunners flying a specially configured target aircraft and got shot at by new recruit gunners. He undoubtedly helped save many American Lives. His military decorations include the distinguished Flying Cross and numerous Air Medals. After World War II, he left the Air Force but continued to fly with the PA Air National Guard until his retirement as a
brigadier general. He flew many aircrafts including the P51 Mustang, F86D Sabrejet, F84F Thunderjet and the F102 Delta Dagger. John often said that the greatest moment of
his flying career came when he flew with his son, a newly winged Navy pilot, in the two seat version of the F102. Mr. Aranyos was a retired welder from the National plant, U.S. Steel Corp., with over 40 years of service, and a member of Transfiguration of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sheila Patricia Aranyos.