On 20 April 1966, Commander John Abbott was serving with VA-113, CVW-11, USS Kitty Hawk, Task Force 77, 7th Fleet off the coast of South Vietnam.

On that day, while flying a mission over North Vietnam, the fixed wing aircraft CDR Abbott was piloting crashed. Captured, he was held as a Prisoner of War and died in captivity. His remains were returned to U.S. soil on 13 March 1974 and were identified on 17 April 1974.

He received a posthumous promotion to Captain.

Awards

Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Prisoner of War Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Naval Aviator Badge

Honors

The name John Abbott is located on Panel 6E Line 124 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.