Abel was in the 531st Fighter Bomber Squadron in the Pacific Theater. He

and his gunner Archie Lott took off from Makin Island in the Gibert Islands

on Feb.16,1944. He was the pilot of a A-24 Banshee when they were hit by the Japanese. Abel left the aircraft fist his parachutebillowed open and landed about 300 yards south of the southeast tip of Mille Island,Staff Sergeant exited a little too late,as his parachute did not completely open as he landed. A PBY boat began searching for them but could not land because of incoming fire. They soon spotted a man on a life raft about one mile off of Mille Island. The aircraft remained in the area untill 4pm.when it left to search for two P-40 Warhawks pilots near Jaluit. The Flying Boat and Warhawks returned the next morning to continue the search but the man and the life raft were no longer to be seen. That man was my mother"s brother Abel.

For 68 years all we knew was that he was shot down in the Marshall Islands and then my son found all this information, it was amazing!!

Fay Valadez Crammond

Abel Morales