He was the son of Clarence Robert and Anna Elizabeth Gahman Abbott. His brother and sisters included, Lois, Esther, and Roscoe. He completed High School and worked as a painter in Ohio, prior to enlisting into the Army
LT Walter enlisted into the US Army Air Corp on 31 March, 1942 at Fort Hayes Columbus, Van Wert, Ohio. After completion of additional training, he was eventually assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, flying P-38 Lightnings.
The 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group was stationed at Stirling Island, Solomon Islands, 15 January 1944, conducting aerial combat operations in the South and Southwest Pacific between 22 October 1942 to 8 August 1945.
On April 18, 1943, P-38 Lightnings of the 339th carried out the most famous fighter mission of the war-the assassination of Admiral Yamamoto. Intelligence found out that Yamamoto would be inspecting the Japanese base at Bougainville, and with approval from "the highest levels," a mission was ordered to get him. Only P-38's, with special, large drop tanks would have the range. The USAAF officers planned the intercept to the minute. Early in the morning, eighteen Lightnings took off, following a circuitous course at wave top level.
According to a hometown newspaper article in Van Wert, Ohio, published on 12 April, 1942, LT Abbott's parents were notified by the War Department that he was flying a P-38 pursuit plane (P-38 Lightning) on 20 March, 1944 when it crashed. It continued to say that LT. Abbott had previously flown 25 missions, and then took a brief leave for rest; that this was his first flight upon returning from leave and that he died in the crash.
LT Walter N Abbott was declared missing and his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. He received the Air Medal posthumously.
LT Walter enlisted into the US Army Air Corp on 31 March, 1942 at Fort Hayes Columbus, Van Wert, Ohio. After completion of additional training, he was eventually assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, flying P-38 Lightnings.
The 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group was stationed at Stirling Island, Solomon Islands, 15 January 1944, conducting aerial combat operations in the South and Southwest Pacific between 22 October 1942 to 8 August 1945.
On April 18, 1943, P-38 Lightnings of the 339th carried out the most famous fighter mission of the war-the assassination of Admiral Yamamoto. Intelligence found out that Yamamoto would be inspecting the Japanese base at Bougainville, and with approval from "the highest levels," a mission was ordered to get him. Only P-38's, with special, large drop tanks would have the range. The USAAF officers planned the intercept to the minute. Early in the morning, eighteen Lightnings took off, following a circuitous course at wave top level.
According to a hometown newspaper article in Van Wert, Ohio, published on 12 April, 1942, LT Abbott's parents were notified by the War Department that he was flying a P-38 pursuit plane (P-38 Lightning) on 20 March, 1944 when it crashed. It continued to say that LT. Abbott had previously flown 25 missions, and then took a brief leave for rest; that this was his first flight upon returning from leave and that he died in the crash.
LT Walter N Abbott was declared missing and his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. He received the Air Medal posthumously.
He was the son of Clarence Robert and Anna Elizabeth Gahman Abbott. His brother and sisters included, Lois, Esther, and Roscoe. He completed High School and worked as a painter in Ohio, prior to enlisting into the Army
LT Walter enlisted into the US Army Air Corp on 31 March, 1942 at Fort Hayes Columbus, Van Wert, Ohio. After completion of additional training, he was eventually assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, flying P-38 Lightnings.
The 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group was stationed at Stirling Island, Solomon Islands, 15 January 1944, conducting aerial combat operations in the South and Southwest Pacific between 22 October 1942 to 8 August 1945.
On April 18, 1943, P-38 Lightnings of the 339th carried out the most famous fighter mission of the war-the assassination of Admiral Yamamoto. Intelligence found out that Yamamoto would be inspecting the Japanese base at Bougainville, and with approval from "the highest levels," a mission was ordered to get him. Only P-38's, with special, large drop tanks would have the range. The USAAF officers planned the intercept to the minute. Early in the morning, eighteen Lightnings took off, following a circuitous course at wave top level.
According to a hometown newspaper article in Van Wert, Ohio, published on 12 April, 1942, LT Abbott's parents were notified by the War Department that he was flying a P-38 pursuit plane (P-38 Lightning) on 20 March, 1944 when it crashed. It continued to say that LT. Abbott had previously flown 25 missions, and then took a brief leave for rest; that this was his first flight upon returning from leave and that he died in the crash.
LT Walter N Abbott was declared missing and his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. He received the Air Medal posthumously.
LT Walter enlisted into the US Army Air Corp on 31 March, 1942 at Fort Hayes Columbus, Van Wert, Ohio. After completion of additional training, he was eventually assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, flying P-38 Lightnings.
The 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group was stationed at Stirling Island, Solomon Islands, 15 January 1944, conducting aerial combat operations in the South and Southwest Pacific between 22 October 1942 to 8 August 1945.
On April 18, 1943, P-38 Lightnings of the 339th carried out the most famous fighter mission of the war-the assassination of Admiral Yamamoto. Intelligence found out that Yamamoto would be inspecting the Japanese base at Bougainville, and with approval from "the highest levels," a mission was ordered to get him. Only P-38's, with special, large drop tanks would have the range. The USAAF officers planned the intercept to the minute. Early in the morning, eighteen Lightnings took off, following a circuitous course at wave top level.
According to a hometown newspaper article in Van Wert, Ohio, published on 12 April, 1942, LT Abbott's parents were notified by the War Department that he was flying a P-38 pursuit plane (P-38 Lightning) on 20 March, 1944 when it crashed. It continued to say that LT. Abbott had previously flown 25 missions, and then took a brief leave for rest; that this was his first flight upon returning from leave and that he died in the crash.
LT Walter N Abbott was declared missing and his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. He received the Air Medal posthumously.
Bio by: Rick Ervin
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Ohio.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
