William Warner Abercrombie

Ensign, United States Naval Reserve

Navy Cross

William was the son of Carl W. Abercrombie and Grace Warner who were married on 21 Jun 1911 in Garden City, KS. William or Abbie as he was known graduated from the University of Kansas in May 1940. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. According to the 1940 Kansas City, MO federal census, William had completed 3 yrs of college.

William W. Abercrombie enlisted in the US Naval Reserve (V-5) flight training program, as Seaman Second Class (S2c), at Kansas City, KS on 27 Aug 1940. On 16 Sep 1940, he reported for active duty at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base (NRAB), Kansas City, Kansas, and on 05 Oct 1940 was released from active duty upon completion of elimination flight training and to await further orders. On 24 Dec 1940, he was honorably discharged to accept appointment as an Aviation Cadet. On 27 Dec 1940, he accepted appointment as Aviation Cadet to rank from 16 Dec 1940. As an Aviation Cadet he reported on 30 Dec 1940 to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola, FL, for active duty undergoing training. Detached from Pensacola on 24 Jun 1941 Abercrombie transferred to the NAS at Miami, FL, for advanced flight instruction under training reporting the next day. After completing his aviation training he was designated Naval Aviator (Heavier-than-air) on 10 July 1941. Abercrombie accepted appointment as an Ensign, AV-(N), USNR, on 04 Aug 1941 to rank from 03 Jun 1941.

He was detached from NAS Miami on 4 Aug 1941 and was to report to the Fleet Air Detachment, NAS, Norfolk, VA. After a leave period, Ensign Abercrombie reported to NAS Norfolk on 25 Aug 1941 for temporary active duty involving flying under instruction (UI) with the Advanced Carrier Training Group, Fleet Air Detachment, Norfolk, VA. Upon completion of this additional instruction, he reported to Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) in the fall, 1941. VT-8, commissioned on 02 Sep 1941, was to be attached to the USS Hornet (CV-8) in Norfolk, VA after her commissioning on 21 Oct 1941 in Norfolk.

Hornet departed Norfolk, VA for the Pacific in early March 1942 after months of intensive workups in the Atlantic and Caribbean areas. Shortly after arriving in the Pacific via the Panama Canal, Hornet played a major role in the successful attack on Japan by Col Doolittle's B-25 force on 18 April 1942. Shortly after returning from the Doolittle raid, Hornet, along with the USS Enterprise (CV-6), was ordered to support the USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the battle of the Coral Sea in early May 1942. However, the battle was over before they reached the area. Hornet returned to Pearl Harbor on 26 May and was ordered to prepare to support impending combat operations near Midway. Late in May 1942, a large Japanese carrier force headed for the Midway Atoll. The Hornet, along with carriers Yorktown and Enterprise moved to intercept that force.

Early in the morning of 4 Jun 1942 Hornet launched her air group of 59 planes to attack the Japanese carriers. VT-8, separated from the rest of the Air Group, found the enemy carriers and commenced their attack. And attack they did! Headlong into the maelstrom without fighter protection the 15 planes of VT-8 pressed their attack through an onslaught of enemy fighter and anti-aircraft fire. One by one the torpedo planes were sent hurtling into the sea. All 15 aircraft were shot down with the loss of 29 of the 30 aircrew. Ens Abercrombie and his radioman/gunner, ARM2 Bernard P. Phelps did not return. Their remains were unrecoverable. According to the Hornet’s Midway-Battle-After-Action-Report dated 13 Jun 1942 they were listed as "missing in action." On 5 Jun 1943 they were officially listed as presumed killed in action. In that same report Rear Admiral (Select) Mitscher, Hornet CO, nominated each member of Torpedo Eight who flew into battle on 4 Jun 1942 for the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Ensign Abercrombie was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously, with the following citation:

NAVY CROSS: "For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service beyond the call of duty as a pilot of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT in the 'Air Battle of Midway,' against enemy Japanese forces on June 4, 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Abercrombie, resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attack against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft and against an almost solid barrage of antiaircraft fire. His courageous action carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Ensign Abercrombie was also entitled to the ribbon for, and a facsimile of, the Presidential Unit Citation to Torpedo Squadron EIGHT, as follows:

PUC - TORPEDO SQUADRON EIGHT:

In addition to the Navy Cross, Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) ribbon, Ens. Abercrombie was posthumously awarded the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

------------------------------------

His family also received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads: In grateful memory of William Warner Abercrombie, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. HORNET, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed)*. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States of America

(*Presumed dead on 5 Jun 1943. Actual date gone missing was 4 Jun 1942.)

The USS Abercrombie (DE-343) was a John C Butler-class destroyer escort named after Ensign William Abercrombie. It was launched on 14 Jan 1944 and commissioned on 1 May 1944. She participated in the amphibious landings at Leyte in the Philippines and the invasion of Luzon. Later, she was at the invasion of Okinawa. She provided radar picket duty in support of US forces on and around Okinawa. She was attacked on at least 15 separate occasions. She shot down at least 2 suicide aircraft and assisted on at least 2 more shoot-downs. She was also part of the forces occupying Japan at war's end. She returned to San Pedro, CA on 21 Nov 1945 and began preparations for deactivation. She was decommissioned on 15 Jun 1946 and struck from the Register of Ships on 1 May 1967. She was sunk as a target 7 Jan 1968. She earned four battle stars during WWII.

---------------------------------------

The Garden City Herald (Garden City, KS) - 30 Jul 1914, Thu - p. 1

Mr. and Mrs. Carl W. Abercrombie of Medford, Oregon, announce the arrival of a son on the 25th.

---------------------------------------

Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX) - 09 Jan 1944, Sun - p. 8

Destroyer Escort Is Named For Kansas Hero

Orange - (U.P.) -- A Kansan who lost his life in action while a member of Torpedo Squadron Eight, will be honored here January 14 when the USS Abercrombie, a destroyer escort vessel, is launched. The escort will bear the name of Ensign William W. Abercrombie, of Merriam, Kan., who was a member of the famed squadron when he was killed in the battle of Midway June 4, 1942. Sponsor will be the officer's mother, Mrs. C.W. Abercrombie, of Merriam.

----------------------

Combat Action Ribbon Note:

[None of the flight crews were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, Chapter 2, Section 3, p2-34). It reads in part, “The CR will not be awarded to personnel for Aerial Combat, . . . “]