Andrew Thomas Fabiny
MilitaryTook part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator #42-40778.
Austin’s crew was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the 1 Aug 1943 low-level raid under G.O. #90, Hqrs. Ninth Air Force, Sept. 16, 1943, yet for some unknown reason, amendments revoked the DFC, then awarded the DFC for the raid under GO #150, Hq. 9th Air Force, December 30, 1943. There was some confusion as to whether the DFCs were a basic award or an Oak Leaf Cluster on G.O. #90, so this drove the amendments and some of their award cards are different.
On August 16, 1943, was shot down in 'Southern Comfort' #42-40778 on a mission to Foggia, IT while temporarily assigned to the 9th AAC. The plane caught fire and pilot Austin had to give the bail out order. 8 crew members became Prisoner of War (POW)s and 2 were Killed in Action (KIA).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13020171 / O-793711
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36008454 / O-733298
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14068817 / 0-795238
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 06294273
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38097871
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Southern Comfort
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Rock Springs, Wyoming | 31 May 1920 | Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming |
Enlisted |
24 March 1942 | Seattle, Washington | |
Died |
14 February 1983 | Fontana, San Bernardino County, California | |
Buried |
Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside County, California |
Revisions
NARA files verified DFC and AM and he earned the ACM based on entry date and the EAME Campaign Medal with at least one bronze service star. Added bio data.
No PH Card is listed in NARA, although his Find a Grave entry mentions it.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3808287/andrew-t-fabiny
Added a "#" to the A/C serial numbers in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
'Ploesti' by Dugan & Stewart, 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy pp. 114-6 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia