Assigned to 551BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 24 x missions. On 10 Nov '44 while circling over base to form up for a mission, the plane 'War Horse' developed an oil leak. The engine caught fire and then the plane caught fire. All the crew bailed out but the plane tipped over into a spiral before the pilot could get out. The pilot was the only member killed.
Awards: PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Photo: - https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2015/275/153...
Service
People
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
On 10 Nov '44 while circling over base to form up for a mission, the plane 'War Horse' developed an oil leak. The engine caught fire and then the plane caught fire. All the crew bailed out but the plane tipped over into a spiral before the pilot could...
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Units served with
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Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 12/12/43; Gt Falls 17/12/43; Denver 19/12/43; Kearney 31/12/43; Presque Is 24/1/44; Assigned 549BS/385BG [XA-R] Gt Ashfield 22/4/44; 551BS; on return from mission 10/11/44 with Art Naylor (Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Carl Cunningham...
Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
The airfield was built in 1942 by John Laing & Son Ltd. 108,000 tons of concrete was used in its construction, creating a Class 'A' airfield suitable for heavy bombers. The 385th Bomb Group took up residence in the summer of 1943, and remained at the...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Chauncey, OH, USA |
10 February 1925 |
Son of Elias T and Mary Ann [Adacia] Abdella.
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Enlisted |
Clarksburg, WV, USA |
1 June 1943 |
Based |
Great Ashfield |
1944 |
Assigned to 551BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF.
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Died |
Chauncey, OH, USA |
3 October 2015 |
Buried |
Ohio, USA |
November 2015 |
No Burial
Body donated to Medical Science.
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