An Air Force major general who retired in 1971 after having served as a regional commander of the North American Air Defense CommandIn his final military post, General Abbey was responsible for the air defense of nine states in the Midwest and four Canadian provinces. Earlier, he had served as director of the combat operations center of the North American Air Defense Command and the Continental Air Defense Command. Early in the Vietnam War, he was deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Military Assistance Command. Subsequently he was chief of staff for reserve forces at Air Force headquarters. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1940. In 1941, he received his pilot's wings and later served as a flight instructor for B-17 pilots. During the latter period of World War II, he commanded a bombardment squadron in Italy and flew 29 combat missions over France, Italy, Germany and the Balkans. In 1947, he transferred to the Air Force when it became a separate service. He received a master's degree in international relations from Georgetown University, served in the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later was posted to the Netherlands as chief of the Air Force Military Assistance Advisory Group. Later, he taught at the National War College and served as a wing commander at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. He retired from military service in 1971.
An Air Force major general who retired in 1971 after having served as a regional commander of the North American Air Defense CommandIn his final military post, General Abbey was responsible for the air defense of nine states in the Midwest and four Canadian provinces. Earlier, he had served as director of the combat operations center of the North American Air Defense Command and the Continental Air Defense Command. Early in the Vietnam War, he was deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Military Assistance Command. Subsequently he was chief of staff for reserve forces at Air Force headquarters. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1940. In 1941, he received his pilot's wings and later served as a flight instructor for B-17 pilots. During the latter period of World War II, he commanded a bombardment squadron in Italy and flew 29 combat missions over France, Italy, Germany and the Balkans. In 1947, he transferred to the Air Force when it became a separate service. He received a master's degree in international relations from Georgetown University, served in the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later was posted to the Netherlands as chief of the Air Force Military Assistance Advisory Group. Later, he taught at the National War College and served as a wing commander at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. He retired from military service in 1971.
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