William Thurry Mabbutt

Military

Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Shoshone, Idaho 14 March 1922
Shoshone, Idaho 30 June 1942 Worked for Tailor Grazing Service

Enlisted

Boise, Idaho 16 October 1942

Other

Combat Mission

Toulon Harbor, France 18 August 1944 Shipping

Other

Combat Mission

Montelimar, France 19 August 1944 Railroad Bridge

Other

Combat Mission

Le Pouzin, France 20 August 1944 Bridge

Other

Combat Mission

Montelimar, France 23 August 1944 Bridge

Other

Rest Camp

Rome, Italy 25 August 1944 - 28 August 1944

Other

Shot Down/Evaded

Pieve Albignola, Italy 20 October 1944 On October 20, a B-25 machine gunner, William Mabbutt, of Idaho, descended in the Pieve Albignola area, was helped by a farmer, who put him in contact with the Justice and Freedom formations [56] . Mabbutt was on his 58th mission when shot down. He spent 90 days evading and getting back to Allied controlled territory

Died

Pullman, Washington 8 October 2001 William T. Mabbutt was born on March 14, 1922 in Shoshone, Idaho, to Elsie Erickson Mabbutt and George "Ned" Mabbutt. He attended school in Shoshone and was awarded All State Center in basketball during his senior year. Bill attended the University of Utah one year before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps. On his 58th mission, his B-25 was shot down over Italy. He returned to the U.S. after spending 90 days walking out from behind enemy lines. After returning to Idaho, he attended the UI, where he met his future wife, Anita Hamilton. Bill and Anita were married and settled in Southern Idaho and recently celebrated 55 years together. His appreciation of the outdoors led to a long career with the Bureau of Land Management, where Bill became the Assistant State Director, retiring in 1980. Bill took great pleasure in making others happy and demonstrated this by saying "Let's see a big smile." His ability as a chef led him to many adventures, including cooking for dignitaries and movie stars as well as groups as large as 1,200 people. Bill and Anita authored several cookbooks about wild geese and Idaho specialties.