Heroic Tale of a Tail Gunner

[Vincent]

Don’t know any more about the story, but there is a Sargent Richard Abbott listed as a B17 gunner. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and an Air medal. I can’t find his total number of missions, at least 18. He’s also listed as having been wounded.

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[Seaspriter]

Don’t know any more about the story, but there is a Sargent Richard Abbott listed as a B17 gunner. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and an Air medal. I can’t find his total number of missions, at least 18. He’s also listed as having been wounded.

Thanks so much. Every little bit helps in reconstructing the story. You have proven again why this website is so valuable. My thanks to all the Milsurps "league of experts" who help enrich my knowledge.

Dick Abbott was a very quiet man. He became an engineer after the war. But like many WWII vets (like my father), they really didn't talk too much about their war experience. I understand.

Now, forty years after Vietnam I am starting to be more open about the war. But it's a lot easier for me to tell about war through the experience of the WWII vets. Maybe that's why I only have historic guns WWII and older, and no Vietnam era weapons.

Robert