Francis J Abdella
MilitaryAssigned 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.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380140.jpg.webp?itok=3DyNylCs)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Slick Chick
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ole-O-Oboe
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: War Horse
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Li'L Audrey | Sky Chief
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Golden Goose
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Chauncey, OH, USA | 10 February 1925 | Son of Elias T and Mary Ann [Adacia] Abdella. |
|
Enlisted |
Clarksburg, WV, USA | 1 June 1943 | |
|
Died |
Chauncey, OH, USA | 3 October 2015 | |
|
Based |
Great Ashfield | Assigned to 551BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
|
Buried |
Ohio, USA | No Burial Body donated to Medical Science. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to service number, biography, awards, events, person associations, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR