Anthony J Abbondanza

321st Bomb Grpoup, 447th Bomb Squadron, N. Africa, Italy, Corsica and N Italy.

Abbondanza, Anthony J., S/Sgt, aerial gunner (31308822)(32 Arthur St, Beverly MA)NARA - 31308822 ABBONDANZA#ANTHONY#J# MA ESSEX BOSTON MA 43)

10-May-44 

  MIA shot down 20 Oct 44, (evaded)  returned to our Troops.

#43-3403 Incendiary Blonde B-25 Lost on 20 Oct. 1944.

11 Dec. 2012 from Professor Agostini Alberti;

Dear Friends,
Have received the attached file by Mr. Bottacin from Pieve Albignola,
the small village where did crashed the B-25 "Incendiary Blonde" on Oct
20, 1944.
He was able to find Mr. Battista Fasce, the partisan (now he is 87 years
old) who hid and assisted Sgt Mabbutt after the "landing" in enemy held
territory.
It sounds an interesting story...
With Friendship, Ago

WAR-DIARY; 321st Bomb Group (Medium), 447th BS; 20 Oct. 1944

447th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 9442: Craft received flak in right wing near engine; left engine began throwing oil, and attempts to feather it failed. Loss of altitude was indicated and at 6,000’ bail-out orders were given. Abbondanza, who believes he was first to bail, left craft at 3500’ closely followed by Wentz; neither saw any other chutes while descending. Both members state none of the crew had been injured in the craft. Difficulty was encountered with flak-damaged escape hatches and only the rear hatch was successfully forced open. Abbondanza’s last view of the plane was at its point of fall into a dive; then an explosion was felt. Wreckage was never seen by sources.

A/C No. 43-3403 “Incendiary Blonde” (MACR-9442 – hit by flak - crashed   )P  Willis, Richard L., 1Lt – remained in plane – KIA – buried 21 Oct 44, Cemetery Piave Albignola Field 2, Row 9, Grave 6

CP  Wentz, James I., F/O – MIA – POW returned  N None  B  Harvey, Edmund R., 2Lt – remained in plane – KIA – buried 21 Oct 44, Cemetery Piave Albignola Field 2, Row 9, Grave 

Barbi Ennis Connolly PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com

57th Bomb Wing Historical Research Team;  John T Fitzgerald,  Patti Johnson and Barbi Ennis Connolly

447th
S/Sgt Anthony J. Abbondanza:

Friday, 20 October 1944
447th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 594/mission 594) Group Mission # 594:
Eleven of our ships participated in a raid on the Galliate Road Bridge, in
Northern Italy, with Lt Rice leading our Squadron. Excellent concentration
of bombs on target, scoring direct hits on the center and west end knocking
two spans down in the center and one span at the west end. Strings also hit
both approaches. Bombing accuracy, 100%.  Mission efficiency, 62%. 1 plane
failed to return. 1st Lt Richard L. Willis (MIA), 2nd Lt Edmund R. Harvey
(MIA), F/O James I. Wentz (MIA), S/Sgt Anthony J. Abbondanza (MIA), S/Sgt
William T. Mabbutt (MIA).
--
A/C No. 43-3403 “Incendiary Blonde” (MACR-9442 – hit by flak - crashed)
P Willis, Richard L., 1Lt – remained in plane – KIA – buried 21 Oct 44,
Cemetery
Piave Albignola Field 2, Row 9, Grave 6
CP Wentz, James I. “Jim”, F/O – MIA – POW returned
N None
B Harvey, Edmund R., 2Lt – remained in plane – KIA – buried 21 Oct 44,
Cemetery
Piave Albignola Field 2, Row 9, Grave 7
E Mabbutt, William T., S/Sgt – MIA - evaded enemy - returned to USA
(interviewed by
Intelligence Service, Army Service Forces, New York Port of Embarkation,
Brooklyn, New York on 16 Dec 44)
R None
G Abbondanza, Anthony J., S/Sgt – MIA – POW returned
F None

-20 October 1944
ALSO on that Raid:

A/C No. 43-27498 “Ave Maria”
P Gillis, John R., 1Lt
CP Autry, Aaron E., 2Lt
N None
B Fiocca, Theodore A., Sgt
E Quintenz, Robert P., S/Sgt
R None listed - likely the bombardier
G Harris, Jack J., Sgt
F None-

Abbondanza, Anthony J., S/Sgt., Aerial-Gunner, Enlistment Service # :
31308822
MISSING IN ACTION on 20 October 1944 on Bombing Mission on Galliate Road
Bridge in Northern Italy.  Flak Damaged and Losing Altitude, Bail Orders Were
Given. Plane Crashed and Exploded.  Abbondanza EVADED ENEMY CAPTURE~
RETURNED AND INTERROGATED on 30 November 1944~Three Crew Members Survived.
--
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 31308822      NAME ABBONDANZA  ANTHONY  RESIDENCE: STATE;  MASSACHUSETTS    RESIDENCE: COUNTY;  ESSEX   PLACE OF ENLISTMENT;  BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS 
DATE OF ENLISTMENT 06  April, 1943   GRADE:  Private   SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL;  Civil Life 
NATIVITY;  MASSACHUSETTS    YEAR OF BIRTH 1924    RACE AND CITIZENSHIP;  White, citizen 
EDUCATION  4 years of high school    CIVILIAN OCCUPATION;  Semiskilled occupations in manufacture of
miscellaneous electrical equipment, n.e.c.  MARITAL STATUS;  Single, without dependents 
--
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Anthony J Abbondanza    Birth Year: 1924   Race: White, citizen (White)  Nativity State or Country: Massachusetts   State of Residence: Massachusetts   County or City: Essex    Enlistment Date: 6 Apr 1943
Enlistment State: Massachusetts   Enlistment City: Boston
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)Source:   Civil Life   Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled occupations in manufacture of miscellaneous electrical equipment
Marital Status: Single, without dependents   Height: 92   Weight: 108 
--
Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003   Name: Anthony J Abbondanza   Certificate: 025753
Death Place: Danvers   Death Date: 1 Apr 1989   Birth Place: Massachusetts   Birth Date: 28 Jul 1924
--
Social Security Death Index   Name: Anthony Abbondanza   SSN: 027-14-2481
Last Residence: 01923  Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts, United States of America   Born: 28 Jul 1924
Died: 1 Apr 1989
State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts (Before 1951)
--
National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.   Registry~NARA~War Department Files
Honoree Hometown Service Source        Anthony J. Abbondanza Beverly, MA U.S. Army Air Forces Charlotte A. Prisco    Anthony J. Abbondanza   BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army Air Forces
HOMETOWN: Beverly, MA    HONORED BY: Charlotte A. Prisco, Daughter   

ACTIVITY DURING WWII
FLEW MISSIONS OVER AFRICA AND EUROPE. RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS.
----
Abbondanza'a Daughter:  Charlotte A Prisco   Beverly, MA 01915-2521
---------------------------
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
Name: Anthony Abbondanza   Gender: Male   Birth Date: 28 Jul 1924   Death Date: 1 Apr 1989
Cause of Death: Natural   Branch 1: ARMY  Enlistment Date 1: 13 Apr 1943   Release Date 1: 7 Dec 1945
--
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989   Name: Anthony J Abbondanza   Gender: M (Male)  Residence Year: 1963
Street Address: 106 Bisson, Beverly, Massachusetts   Occupation: Supv   Spouse: Edith C Abbondanza
Publication Title: Beverly, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1963
------------
Edith C. Abbondanza: Social Security Death Index   Name:Edith C. Abbondanza   State of Issue:Massachusetts   Date of Birth:Thursday  February  09, 1928   Date of Death:Tuesday  November  10, 1992    Est. Age at Death:  64 years, 9 months, 1 days    Last known residence:   City: Danvers
County: Essex   State: Massachusetts    ZIP Code: 01923
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  Barbi Ennis Connolly;  PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com  Assembled by the 321st Bomb Group Historical Research Team;  John T Fitzgerald, Patti Johnson and Barbi Connolly.