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Abbott Crew 609 Summary
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The Abbott Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as Crew 1634 from the CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas. Their crew remained intact with no personnel changes. They were assigned to the 856th BS, designated as Crew 609.
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Lt Franklin Abbott signed out for a B-24J, 44-40128. To our knowledge their ship wasn't given a nickname. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground Crew Chief S/Sgt McCready flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Lague onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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The Group's first stop while on their way to England was at the processing center in Herrington, Kansas. Among the many things done there were final medical exams. S/Sgt James Brewington failed his and was grounded. He was replaced by S/Sgt Ernest Booth who had just recovered from an accident in a B-25 months earlier. We don't know what became of Brewington.
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By our count, Lt Abbott flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 609 for a total of 15 missions. We don't know all of the personnel changes that were made on their various missions. We do know T/Sgt Mike Dipadua was wounded on the 4 June mission, ending his combat tour. We don't know who took his place. There was a different radio operator when they were shot down but he was just filling in for that one mission. He belonged the Bowland Crew.
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On 20 Jun 44, they were among the victims of the ill-fated mission sent to bomb the well defended oil refinery at Politz. They were shot down over the Baltic Sea by rocket firing Me-410s and JU-88s. There were no survivors of the 10-man crew. Only one body was recovered for burial. MACR 7075.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Abbott Crew 609
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Abbott, Franklin D |
2nd Lt |
O-663450 |
Promoted 1st Lt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Bellamy, Roy E |
2nd Lt |
O-702220 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Tomlinson, Douglas Jr |
2nd Lt |
O-703343 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Schultz, William W |
2nd Lt |
O-695542 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Booth, Ernest E |
S/Sgt |
34235335 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Dipadua, Michael G |
S/Sgt |
31258608 |
Promoted T/Sgt
WIA, 4 Jun 44
Returned to US for recovery |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Thivener, Chester L |
Sgt |
35647426 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Kent, Dennis C |
Sgt |
18167684 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Burial info unknown, see Footnotes |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Wilkie, William M |
Sgt |
12174218 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
RW Gunner
MOS 612 |
Lague, Gerald A |
Sgt |
11111884 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
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Others Who Flew with Abbott Crew 609
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Engineer
MOS 748 |
Brewington, James F |
S/Sgt |
34645140 |
Original engineer
Replaced at Herrington, KS |
Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
McCreedy, Herbert S |
S/Sgt |
6994505 |
Flew to England with the crew |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Jezior, Julius |
S/Sgt |
35046846 |
Lent from Bowland Crew R-11
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7075
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
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Abbott Crew 609
492nd BG Mission Record
856th Bomb Squadron
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Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
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12 May 44 |
44-40128 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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15 May 44 |
44-40128 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
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Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40128 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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29 May 44 |
44-40128 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 06 |
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30 May 44 |
44-40128 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 07 |
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02 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Berck-sur-Mer, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 08 |
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04 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield
1 WIA
landed at another base |
| 09 |
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06 Jun 44 |
42-110152 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 10 |
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08 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction
Bombed with 392nd BG |
| 11 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 12 |
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12 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 14 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity |
| 15 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Lost before target
10 KIA, MACR 7075 |
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