United States Navy Reserve
World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas:
Name: Ensign William W Abercrombie MIA/KIA
Official Death Date: 5 Jun 1943
Hometown: Merriam, Kansas
Inducted From: Missouri
Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), U.S.S. HORNET
Service# 0-098514
Awards: Navy Cross, Purple Heart
Awarded for actions during the World War II
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to William Warner Abercrombie, Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Abercrombie, resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attached against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft and against an almost solid barrage of antiaircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Born: July 24, 1914 at Medford, Oregon
World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas:
Name: Ensign William W Abercrombie MIA/KIA
Official Death Date: 5 Jun 1943
Hometown: Merriam, Kansas
Inducted From: Missouri
Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), U.S.S. HORNET
Service# 0-098514
Awards: Navy Cross, Purple Heart
Awarded for actions during the World War II
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to William Warner Abercrombie, Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Abercrombie, resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attached against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft and against an almost solid barrage of antiaircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Born: July 24, 1914 at Medford, Oregon
United States Navy Reserve
World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas:
Name: Ensign William W Abercrombie MIA/KIA
Official Death Date: 5 Jun 1943
Hometown: Merriam, Kansas
Inducted From: Missouri
Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), U.S.S. HORNET
Service# 0-098514
Awards: Navy Cross, Purple Heart
Awarded for actions during the World War II
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to William Warner Abercrombie, Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Abercrombie, resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attached against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft and against an almost solid barrage of antiaircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Born: July 24, 1914 at Medford, Oregon
World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas:
Name: Ensign William W Abercrombie MIA/KIA
Official Death Date: 5 Jun 1943
Hometown: Merriam, Kansas
Inducted From: Missouri
Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), U.S.S. HORNET
Service# 0-098514
Awards: Navy Cross, Purple Heart
Awarded for actions during the World War II
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to William Warner Abercrombie, Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Abercrombie, resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attached against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft and against an almost solid barrage of antiaircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Born: July 24, 1914 at Medford, Oregon
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Missouri.
