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
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Units served with
People
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Madam Shoo Shoo
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell's Belles
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jeanie Beanie
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
![McCafferty of the 385th Bomb Group inspects a flak hole in his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-6136) nicknamed "Stork Club". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Stork Club, 2/5/45. Co-Pilot McCafferty (44-6136), 385BG. Flak [illegible], Netty.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413761.jpg.webp?itok=ou-Y2UPc)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stork Club
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: West Virginian
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
Places
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
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR