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Contact Info
Home Town Pulaski, Tennessee
Last Address Mason City, Iowa
Date of Passing Dec 14, 2008
Location of Interment Memorial Park Cemetery - Mason City, Iowa
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section: Park, Lot 174, Space 8
He served his country in WWII flying fighter planes becoming an ace after shooting down one of the first German jets during the war. He was credited with 5 aerial victories.
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Robert Wilson Abernathy (ASN: 0-767055), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-47 fighter pilot of the 305th Fighter Squadron, 353d Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
Lt Col Joseph A. Morris: 15 Oct. 1942 - 16 Aug. 1943, MIA. Lt Col Loren G. McCollom: 18 Aug. 1943 - 25 Nov. 1943, POW. Col Glenn E. Duncan: 25 Nov. 1943 - 7 Jul. 1944, MIA - evaded. Col Ben Rimerman: 7 Jul. 1944 - 21 Apr. 1945. Col Glenn E. Duncan: 22 Apr. 1945 - 9 Sep. 1945. Lt Col William B. Bailey: 9 Sep. 1945 - 24 Sep. 1945. Lt Col Robert A. Elder: 24 Sep. 1945 - Oct. 1945
First Mission: 12 Aug. 1943 Last Mission: 3 May 1945 Total sorties:447 Aircraft MIA: 137
Claims: Air 330 air; 414 ground.
Major Awards:
Distinguished Unit Citation: 17 - 23 Sep. 1944: support of airborne landings in Holland
Unit Claims to Fame
Pioneered the P-47 dive-bombing and ground attack technique adopted by both 8 and 9 AFs. Walter Beckham was leading 8AF ace at time of his loss
Early History:
Activated 1 Oct. 1942 at Mitchel Field, NY. Unit established at Richmond AAB, Va. thereafter transferring to Baltimore MAP, Md. Iate in Oct. 1942. Trained with P-40s until Feb. 1943 when a few P-47s were assigned. Continued training with P-47s until alerted for overseas movement on May 1943. Sailed on the Queen Mary on 1 Jun. 1943 and arriving at Clyde on 6 Jun.1943.
Subsequent History:
Many personnel transferred after VE-day. The aircraft were sent to depots on Aug 1945. The group returned to the US on Oct. 1945, Group then sailed on the Queen Mary from Southampton on 11 Oct.1945 and arrived in New York on the 16 Oct.1945. Group re-established at Camp Kilmer and inactivated there on 18 Oct. 1945. Redesignated the 116 FG and allotted to Ga ANG in May 1946. Equiped with F-80s and later F-84 aircraft. Group was sent to Korean war from Jul. 1951 to Jul. 1952, then redesignated as a regular USAF wing. 116 FG reestablished in Ga ANG, later redesignated as a transport unit flying C-97 and then C-124. On 9 Aug.
1943 353FG provided 16 aircraft to fly as fourth sqdn. with 56th FG.
Code: LH Callsign: Pipeful
to 22 April '44 then:
Seldom (A Group)
Persian (B Group)
Lt. Dwight A Fry. 350th Fighter Squadron. Seen here in the cockpit of his P-47D 42-8513 LH-Y "Eager Beaver". Lt. Fry was one of the original cadre of the 350th and the first to be assigned to LH-Y.
Lt. Robert F Unangst Sr. 350th Fighter Squadron. P-47D 42-26656 LH-D "Ernestyne".
