https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14453316/robert-ross-abel

Robert Ross Abel {2nd from right}

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 30 DECEMBER 1942 AT FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT WALKER ARMY AIR FIELD NEAR VICTORIA, KANSAS.

DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 500TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 881ST BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISELY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS.

ON 3 DECEMBER 1944, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE CENTRAL FIRE CONTROL BARBER CHAIR STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, NICKNAMED 'ROSALIA ROCKET' (SERIAL #42-24656) TAIL CODE Z-SQUARE-1.

IT WAS ONE OF 86 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE MUSASHINO AIRCRAFT WORKS AND NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ENGINE FACTORY NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN.

FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS FAIRLY HEAVY OVER THE TARGET AREA, AND ENEMY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, WITH 75 PASSES REPORTED. AFTER BOMBS AWAY, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF ABOUT 14 MITSUBISHI A6M3 'HAMP' FIGHTER PLANES, INFLICTING DAMAGE TO THE #2, #3, AND #4 ENGINES, AND SETTING THE FORWARD FUSELAGE ON-FIRE.

HIS AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A RICE PADDY NEAR KAMISHIRO VILLAGE APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES NORTH OF TOKYO. SHOT IN THE LEG AND UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE BURNING BOMBER, HE WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH.

https://www.wwiimemorial.com/Registry/Plaque.aspx?honoreeID=2354000

NAME: Robert Ross Abel

GENDER: Male

RACE: White

AGE: 18

RELATIONSHIP TO DRAFTEE: Self

BIRTH DATE: 28 Feb 1924

BIRTH PLACE: Taft, California, USA

RESIDENCE PLACE: Taft, Kern, California, USA

REGISTRATION DATE: 30 June 1942

REGISTRATION PLACE: Taft, Kern, California, USA

EMPLOYER: Trewitt-Shields And Fisher

WEIGHT: 138

COMPLEXION: Light

EYE COLOR: Gray

HAIR COLOR: Blonde

HEIGHT: 5 7

NEXT OF KIN: Annie Hanst

Robert R Abel