Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Missing in Action
Frank's parents were Joseph Abbadessa (about 1894 – died unknown) and Mary Abbadessa (about 1899 – died unknown), who were both born in Italy. He had a younger sister, Brenda Abbadessa (about 1925 – died unknown). In 1940, the family lived at 2233 Murdock Avenue, Queens, New York, and Joseph Abbadessa was employed as a salesman for an importing firm. Mary Abbadessa was a matron at a private hospital. Frank Abbadessa completed grammar school and later resided in Hudson County, New Jersey. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, on August 3, 1942.
After training, he was assigned as radio operator on the heavy bomber crew of 2/Lt John D. (‘J. D.') Moore in the 412th Bomb Squadron of the 95th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 119, near the village of Horham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. On December 11, 1943, the Moore crew took off from Station 119 in B-17F 42-30182 ‘Blondie II' on a mission to bomb the industrial area at Emden, Germany. The aircraft was last seen near the enemy coast with its number 4 engine on fire. Six chutes were seen leaving the ship. The aircraft ditched in the North Sea off Dantumadeel, Netherlands, with the loss of all ten crew members. None of them was ever found. Here is the rest of the crew roster on December 11, 1943:
Name Rank Position ASN Status
J. D. Moore 2/Lt Pilot O-802139 FOD
Malcolm O. Healey 2/Lt Copilot O-748410 FOD
Howard R. Stanbery 2/Lt Navigator O-739589 FOD
Second Lieutenant Leonard W. EatonBombardier O-744304 FOD
Harold E. Sparks S/Sgt Top Turret/Engineer 35493122 FOD
Donald L. Rybolt S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner 35575158 FOD
Marvin B. Ritter Sgt Tail Gunner 38302100 FOD
U.S. Army Air Forces-412nd Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy -Service # 38302100. He entered the Service from Texas.Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart.
Robert J. Byard S/Sgt Waist Gunner 35715465 FOD
Paul H. Clabaugh S/Sgt Waist Gunner 33249144 FOD
S/Sgt Abbadessa and 2/Lt Eaton are memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. The other eight crew members are memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. And at least three of them are memorialized in the United States:
• 2/Lt Malcolm O'Connor Healey: Memorialized at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.
• 2/Lt Leonard Wayne Eaton: Memorialized at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
• Sgt Marvin Billy Ritter: Memorialized at Gary Cemetery in Gary, Panola County, Texas.
Sources:
1. 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association. Aircraft 42-30182 ‘Blondie II'
2. 95th Bomb Group (H) Memorials Foundation
3. 1940 US Census; New York; Queens County; New York City; 2233 Murdock Avenue. Abbadessa, Joseph. 2 Apr 1940 (father of Frank J. Abbadessa)
4. American Battle Monuments Commission
5. Enlistment Record of Frank J. Abbadessa (gives a birth year of 1913, but 1940 US Census suggests 1916)
6. Find A Grave
7. McKillop, Jack. Combat Chronology of the U.S. Army Air Forces
8. Preller, Fred. Mighty 8th Air Force Cross-Reference. 2002-2012
9. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 1562
10. U.S. Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. Service Personnel Not Recovered Following World War II (Army Air Forces, last name beginning with A)
11. U.S. National World War II Memorial Registry
12. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor LIst of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Missing in Action
Frank's parents were Joseph Abbadessa (about 1894 – died unknown) and Mary Abbadessa (about 1899 – died unknown), who were both born in Italy. He had a younger sister, Brenda Abbadessa (about 1925 – died unknown). In 1940, the family lived at 2233 Murdock Avenue, Queens, New York, and Joseph Abbadessa was employed as a salesman for an importing firm. Mary Abbadessa was a matron at a private hospital. Frank Abbadessa completed grammar school and later resided in Hudson County, New Jersey. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, on August 3, 1942.
After training, he was assigned as radio operator on the heavy bomber crew of 2/Lt John D. (‘J. D.') Moore in the 412th Bomb Squadron of the 95th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 119, near the village of Horham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. On December 11, 1943, the Moore crew took off from Station 119 in B-17F 42-30182 ‘Blondie II' on a mission to bomb the industrial area at Emden, Germany. The aircraft was last seen near the enemy coast with its number 4 engine on fire. Six chutes were seen leaving the ship. The aircraft ditched in the North Sea off Dantumadeel, Netherlands, with the loss of all ten crew members. None of them was ever found. Here is the rest of the crew roster on December 11, 1943:
Name Rank Position ASN Status
J. D. Moore 2/Lt Pilot O-802139 FOD
Malcolm O. Healey 2/Lt Copilot O-748410 FOD
Howard R. Stanbery 2/Lt Navigator O-739589 FOD
Second Lieutenant Leonard W. EatonBombardier O-744304 FOD
Harold E. Sparks S/Sgt Top Turret/Engineer 35493122 FOD
Donald L. Rybolt S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner 35575158 FOD
Marvin B. Ritter Sgt Tail Gunner 38302100 FOD
U.S. Army Air Forces-412nd Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy -Service # 38302100. He entered the Service from Texas.Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart.
Robert J. Byard S/Sgt Waist Gunner 35715465 FOD
Paul H. Clabaugh S/Sgt Waist Gunner 33249144 FOD
S/Sgt Abbadessa and 2/Lt Eaton are memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. The other eight crew members are memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. And at least three of them are memorialized in the United States:
• 2/Lt Malcolm O'Connor Healey: Memorialized at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.
• 2/Lt Leonard Wayne Eaton: Memorialized at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
• Sgt Marvin Billy Ritter: Memorialized at Gary Cemetery in Gary, Panola County, Texas.
Sources:
1. 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association. Aircraft 42-30182 ‘Blondie II'
2. 95th Bomb Group (H) Memorials Foundation
3. 1940 US Census; New York; Queens County; New York City; 2233 Murdock Avenue. Abbadessa, Joseph. 2 Apr 1940 (father of Frank J. Abbadessa)
4. American Battle Monuments Commission
5. Enlistment Record of Frank J. Abbadessa (gives a birth year of 1913, but 1940 US Census suggests 1916)
6. Find A Grave
7. McKillop, Jack. Combat Chronology of the U.S. Army Air Forces
8. Preller, Fred. Mighty 8th Air Force Cross-Reference. 2002-2012
9. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 1562
10. U.S. Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. Service Personnel Not Recovered Following World War II (Army Air Forces, last name beginning with A)
11. U.S. National World War II Memorial Registry
12. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor LIst of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
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