Major Earl L Abbott O - 660088

[Bluenoser]

On 24 Jan. 1945 , my uncle , named above , was declared MIA . He was the Squadron Commander of the 328th FS of the 352nd FG . He was flying a fighter sweep NE of Aachen Germany when he disappeared in pursuit of a ME 109 . No crash sight has ever been found and the Major is still MIA . A few years ago JAPAC received a tip that a armor plate from a P-51 had been discovered in a field in the vicinity of Bruggen Germany witch would have been along the flight path he was last reported seen . The source of that tip was deemed very reliable . So reliable in fact that JAPAC had scheduled a mission to the area to check it out . To my dismay and disappointment the mission was scrubbed due to lack of funds on JAPAC's part . Now JAPAC has been disbanded and the search for MIA /POW's has been taken over by the DOA . This is a GOOD thing . They have a much bigger budget and promise to be more pro-active in these matters .

My question to this forum is , is it possible that one of the members is the source of this information ? Am I inquiring in the right place or is there another forum that I should be looking at ? Are any of you familiar with this case ? I would appreciate any feed back I can get . Thank You ....Bluenoser

[pdame141]

Bluenoser - do you have a copy of the Missing Air Crew Report for your Uncle?

It is No. 12319 and is available online through the website www.fold3.com. The MACR has the serial numbers for your Uncle's aircraft (44-14710), it's engine, as well as the six .50 caliber machine guns on board. These should be useful in identifying any wreckage that may be discovered.

It also has the coordinates of his last known position (5052 N -- 0622 E) and heading (180 degrees).

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Paul Dame

[Bluenoser]

Yes , thank you . I have all that info . What I need to know is if anyone on this forum has ever heard of a crash sight in the area of Bruggen .

[ClinA-78]

I am pretty sure there are people in TOCH who are dealing with MIA in that area.

ClinA-78

[Bluenoser]

Please excuse my ignorance , but what exactly is TOCH ?

[ClinA-78]

You are settled on our marvellous Twelve O' Clock Forum !

ClinA-78

[Bluenoser]

Duh !! Sometimes not the sharpest knife in the drawer . Wonder who it might be that is looking in the Bruggen area .

Bluenoser

[hanshauprich]

Morning!
Do you have ever asked for the IDPF-File from your Uncle? The small village named correct Brüggen, near Nettetal.
h.

[GuerraCivil]

I think that this thread should be removed and discussed more in another context: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Just to remind that here we should be discussing pre-WW2 military and naval aviation...

[Bluenoser]

GuerraCivil : Sorry , I don't know how this topic got posted to the wrong thread . I originally posted on WWll in general .

hanshauprich : Yes , I have the IDPF file for the Major . I have been at this for over 40 years now and have , I think , just about everything that is available . So far nothing I have done has led me any closer to an answer .The discovery of the armor plate in the Bruggen area is the best lead I have ever gotten . I was hoping one of the members here may have some knowledge of that .

Thanks for your response ,

B .