Harry Leo Abrin

Military

Harry Leo Abrin was an Electrical Engineer with 45 Group RAF Ferry Command. He was the son of George and Rebecca Abrin, and husband of Bernice M. Abrin.





On 7 April 1943, Abrin was serving as First Officer on a ferry flight from North Carolina to Scotland to deliver PBY-Catalina FP138. Flying with two British airmen, and 3 Canadians, Abrin's aircraft received a message to divert to Portsmouth en route, but ended up flying near the coast of Normandy. Running low on fuel, the Captain chose to down the aircraft in a coastal inlet, but came under fire from anti-aircraft guns. After regaining height the aircraft was then attacked by two Luftwaffe fighters and Abrin shot in the back and legs. The pilot then downed the damaged aircraft near a rocky outcrop, 2 miles off shore. Abrin's body washed ashore two-days later on 9 April 1943. Two other members of his crew also perished, and the remaining three were taken Prisoner of War.



Abrin was reported Missing In Action by the American Consulate in Canada in May 1943, before being declared dead. He is the only American buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Bayeux France.

Connections

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Units served with

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

Normandy, France 7 April 1943
Clove Road, Staten Island, NY, USA
Phillips Avenue, Outremont, Montreal, QC, Canada

Buried

Bayeux War Cemetery
Hartsdale, NY, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Ancestry Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad

Commonwealth War Graves Burial Record

Story of Alan Rodgers, British member of Abrin's Crew, St Bee's Roll of Honour

I came across Abrin's Grave at the CWGC Cemetery in Bayeux, while visiting there last year.