Second Lieutenant Frank G. Abbote, Army serial number O-2068923, was born at Utica, Oneida County, New York on April 23, 1921. His family name was Abbate, but the spelling of his surname was changed to Abbote in military records by February 1942 when he registered for the draft. His parents were Nicola 'Nicholas' Abbate (18 Dec 1886 – Jun 1952), who was born at Laurenzana, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy, and immigrated to America at Ellis Island, Port of New York on June 12, 1901; and Lucy (Sollitto) Abbate (1891 – Jan 1957), who was born in Italy and immigrated to America about 1905. His parents married about 1915, and by 1917 lived at Utica, New York. His father was a bricklayer and mason.
He had at least three siblings: Rosemary (Abbate) Garro (8 Jun 1916 – 13 Nov 1982), Rosary (Abbate) Di Pietro (1918 – 2006), and Helen M. (Abbate) Chasteen (19 Feb 1923 – 14 Dec 1996). In 1917 the family lived at 874 Bleecker Street, Utica, New York. By 1930 the family home was at 934 Mary Street, Utica, New York.
He registered for the draft at Utica, New York on February 15, 1942. He was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he lived with his parents and was employed by Savage Arms Corporation in Utica. He completed two years of college, and worked as a stenographer and typist. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Utica, New York on April 26, 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces navigation training, and was assigned to the heavy bomber crew of Lt. Harry T. Nyland. The Nyland crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by November 30, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Nyland's crew roster on January 14, 1945:
B-17G 43-37933 – 838th Bomb Squadron (837th Bomb Squadron aircraft)
• Nyland, Harry T – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Rhett, William H – 2/Lt – Copilot – POW
• Abbote, Frank G – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Claxton, John D – Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Ovial, Angelo A – Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Costantino, Saverio T – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – POW
• Litka, Raymond L – Sgt – Chin Turret Gunner/Togglier – POW
• Wetzel, Francis J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – POW
• Kolb, Edward L – Sgt – Tail Gunner – POW
Lt Abbote was killed in action on January 14, 1945, after his crew's aircraft, B-17G 43-37933 'Yankee Maid', collided with another B-17 in the formation near Magdeburg, Germany. The aircraft lost an engine, dropped from formation, and was attacked by German fighters. Lt Abbote was hit and killed by fire from an enemy fighter while in the nose preparing to bail out. His body was thrown from the aircraft during the crash landing two kilometers east of Redefin, Germany. He was buried initially in the Redefin cemetery. The other eight crew members survived and became prisoners of war.
After the war, his remains were permanently reinterred at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France in Plot E, Row 42, Grave 36.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; New York, Oneida County; Utica; Ward 8. Abato, Nicola [sic]. Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nickalas [sic]. 10 Apr 1930 (his father)
4. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nicholas. 10 Apr 1940 (his father)
5. American Battle Monuments Commission
6. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
7. Enlistment Record of Frank G. Abbote
8. New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892–1924: Nicolo Abbate [sic], age 15, from Laurenzano, Italy, immigrated at Ellis Island, New York City, New York aboard the ship Liguria on 12 Jun 1901. (his father)
9. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Rosemary (Abbate) Garro. Utica NY, 15 Nov 1982. (his sister; posted on her findagrave page)
10. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Mrs. Marie Abbate Gottuso. Utica NY, 21 Oct 1984 (Maria C. 'Mildred' (Abbate) Gottuso, his father's sister)
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11732
13. U.S. Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949 (ancestry.com)
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946 (listed under New York, State at Large)
15. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947 (ancestry.com)
16. World War I Draft Registration of Nicola Abbate. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
He had at least three siblings: Rosemary (Abbate) Garro (8 Jun 1916 – 13 Nov 1982), Rosary (Abbate) Di Pietro (1918 – 2006), and Helen M. (Abbate) Chasteen (19 Feb 1923 – 14 Dec 1996). In 1917 the family lived at 874 Bleecker Street, Utica, New York. By 1930 the family home was at 934 Mary Street, Utica, New York.
He registered for the draft at Utica, New York on February 15, 1942. He was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he lived with his parents and was employed by Savage Arms Corporation in Utica. He completed two years of college, and worked as a stenographer and typist. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Utica, New York on April 26, 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces navigation training, and was assigned to the heavy bomber crew of Lt. Harry T. Nyland. The Nyland crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by November 30, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Nyland's crew roster on January 14, 1945:
B-17G 43-37933 – 838th Bomb Squadron (837th Bomb Squadron aircraft)
• Nyland, Harry T – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Rhett, William H – 2/Lt – Copilot – POW
• Abbote, Frank G – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Claxton, John D – Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Ovial, Angelo A – Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Costantino, Saverio T – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – POW
• Litka, Raymond L – Sgt – Chin Turret Gunner/Togglier – POW
• Wetzel, Francis J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – POW
• Kolb, Edward L – Sgt – Tail Gunner – POW
Lt Abbote was killed in action on January 14, 1945, after his crew's aircraft, B-17G 43-37933 'Yankee Maid', collided with another B-17 in the formation near Magdeburg, Germany. The aircraft lost an engine, dropped from formation, and was attacked by German fighters. Lt Abbote was hit and killed by fire from an enemy fighter while in the nose preparing to bail out. His body was thrown from the aircraft during the crash landing two kilometers east of Redefin, Germany. He was buried initially in the Redefin cemetery. The other eight crew members survived and became prisoners of war.
After the war, his remains were permanently reinterred at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France in Plot E, Row 42, Grave 36.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; New York, Oneida County; Utica; Ward 8. Abato, Nicola [sic]. Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nickalas [sic]. 10 Apr 1930 (his father)
4. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nicholas. 10 Apr 1940 (his father)
5. American Battle Monuments Commission
6. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
7. Enlistment Record of Frank G. Abbote
8. New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892–1924: Nicolo Abbate [sic], age 15, from Laurenzano, Italy, immigrated at Ellis Island, New York City, New York aboard the ship Liguria on 12 Jun 1901. (his father)
9. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Rosemary (Abbate) Garro. Utica NY, 15 Nov 1982. (his sister; posted on her findagrave page)
10. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Mrs. Marie Abbate Gottuso. Utica NY, 21 Oct 1984 (Maria C. 'Mildred' (Abbate) Gottuso, his father's sister)
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11732
13. U.S. Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949 (ancestry.com)
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946 (listed under New York, State at Large)
15. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947 (ancestry.com)
16. World War I Draft Registration of Nicola Abbate. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Second Lieutenant Frank G. Abbote, Army serial number O-2068923, was born at Utica, Oneida County, New York on April 23, 1921. His family name was Abbate, but the spelling of his surname was changed to Abbote in military records by February 1942 when he registered for the draft. His parents were Nicola 'Nicholas' Abbate (18 Dec 1886 – Jun 1952), who was born at Laurenzana, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy, and immigrated to America at Ellis Island, Port of New York on June 12, 1901; and Lucy (Sollitto) Abbate (1891 – Jan 1957), who was born in Italy and immigrated to America about 1905. His parents married about 1915, and by 1917 lived at Utica, New York. His father was a bricklayer and mason.
He had at least three siblings: Rosemary (Abbate) Garro (8 Jun 1916 – 13 Nov 1982), Rosary (Abbate) Di Pietro (1918 – 2006), and Helen M. (Abbate) Chasteen (19 Feb 1923 – 14 Dec 1996). In 1917 the family lived at 874 Bleecker Street, Utica, New York. By 1930 the family home was at 934 Mary Street, Utica, New York.
He registered for the draft at Utica, New York on February 15, 1942. He was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he lived with his parents and was employed by Savage Arms Corporation in Utica. He completed two years of college, and worked as a stenographer and typist. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Utica, New York on April 26, 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces navigation training, and was assigned to the heavy bomber crew of Lt. Harry T. Nyland. The Nyland crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by November 30, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Nyland's crew roster on January 14, 1945:
B-17G 43-37933 – 838th Bomb Squadron (837th Bomb Squadron aircraft)
• Nyland, Harry T – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Rhett, William H – 2/Lt – Copilot – POW
• Abbote, Frank G – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Claxton, John D – Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Ovial, Angelo A – Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Costantino, Saverio T – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – POW
• Litka, Raymond L – Sgt – Chin Turret Gunner/Togglier – POW
• Wetzel, Francis J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – POW
• Kolb, Edward L – Sgt – Tail Gunner – POW
Lt Abbote was killed in action on January 14, 1945, after his crew's aircraft, B-17G 43-37933 'Yankee Maid', collided with another B-17 in the formation near Magdeburg, Germany. The aircraft lost an engine, dropped from formation, and was attacked by German fighters. Lt Abbote was hit and killed by fire from an enemy fighter while in the nose preparing to bail out. His body was thrown from the aircraft during the crash landing two kilometers east of Redefin, Germany. He was buried initially in the Redefin cemetery. The other eight crew members survived and became prisoners of war.
After the war, his remains were permanently reinterred at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France in Plot E, Row 42, Grave 36.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; New York, Oneida County; Utica; Ward 8. Abato, Nicola [sic]. Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nickalas [sic]. 10 Apr 1930 (his father)
4. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nicholas. 10 Apr 1940 (his father)
5. American Battle Monuments Commission
6. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
7. Enlistment Record of Frank G. Abbote
8. New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892–1924: Nicolo Abbate [sic], age 15, from Laurenzano, Italy, immigrated at Ellis Island, New York City, New York aboard the ship Liguria on 12 Jun 1901. (his father)
9. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Rosemary (Abbate) Garro. Utica NY, 15 Nov 1982. (his sister; posted on her findagrave page)
10. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Mrs. Marie Abbate Gottuso. Utica NY, 21 Oct 1984 (Maria C. 'Mildred' (Abbate) Gottuso, his father's sister)
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11732
13. U.S. Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949 (ancestry.com)
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946 (listed under New York, State at Large)
15. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947 (ancestry.com)
16. World War I Draft Registration of Nicola Abbate. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
He had at least three siblings: Rosemary (Abbate) Garro (8 Jun 1916 – 13 Nov 1982), Rosary (Abbate) Di Pietro (1918 – 2006), and Helen M. (Abbate) Chasteen (19 Feb 1923 – 14 Dec 1996). In 1917 the family lived at 874 Bleecker Street, Utica, New York. By 1930 the family home was at 934 Mary Street, Utica, New York.
He registered for the draft at Utica, New York on February 15, 1942. He was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he lived with his parents and was employed by Savage Arms Corporation in Utica. He completed two years of college, and worked as a stenographer and typist. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Utica, New York on April 26, 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces navigation training, and was assigned to the heavy bomber crew of Lt. Harry T. Nyland. The Nyland crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by November 30, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Nyland's crew roster on January 14, 1945:
B-17G 43-37933 – 838th Bomb Squadron (837th Bomb Squadron aircraft)
• Nyland, Harry T – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Rhett, William H – 2/Lt – Copilot – POW
• Abbote, Frank G – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Claxton, John D – Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Ovial, Angelo A – Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Costantino, Saverio T – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – POW
• Litka, Raymond L – Sgt – Chin Turret Gunner/Togglier – POW
• Wetzel, Francis J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – POW
• Kolb, Edward L – Sgt – Tail Gunner – POW
Lt Abbote was killed in action on January 14, 1945, after his crew's aircraft, B-17G 43-37933 'Yankee Maid', collided with another B-17 in the formation near Magdeburg, Germany. The aircraft lost an engine, dropped from formation, and was attacked by German fighters. Lt Abbote was hit and killed by fire from an enemy fighter while in the nose preparing to bail out. His body was thrown from the aircraft during the crash landing two kilometers east of Redefin, Germany. He was buried initially in the Redefin cemetery. The other eight crew members survived and became prisoners of war.
After the war, his remains were permanently reinterred at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France in Plot E, Row 42, Grave 36.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; New York, Oneida County; Utica; Ward 8. Abato, Nicola [sic]. Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nickalas [sic]. 10 Apr 1930 (his father)
4. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 934 Mary Street. Abbate, Nicholas. 10 Apr 1940 (his father)
5. American Battle Monuments Commission
6. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
7. Enlistment Record of Frank G. Abbote
8. New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892–1924: Nicolo Abbate [sic], age 15, from Laurenzano, Italy, immigrated at Ellis Island, New York City, New York aboard the ship Liguria on 12 Jun 1901. (his father)
9. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Rosemary (Abbate) Garro. Utica NY, 15 Nov 1982. (his sister; posted on her findagrave page)
10. Observer-Dispatch. Obituary of Mrs. Marie Abbate Gottuso. Utica NY, 21 Oct 1984 (Maria C. 'Mildred' (Abbate) Gottuso, his father's sister)
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11732
13. U.S. Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949 (ancestry.com)
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946 (listed under New York, State at Large)
15. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947 (ancestry.com)
16. World War I Draft Registration of Nicola Abbate. 5 Jun 1917 (his father)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Inscription
FRANK G. ABBOTE
2 LT 838 BOMB SQ 487 BOMB GP (H)
NEW YORK JAN 14 1945
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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