Frank G. Abbote was born at Utica, Oneida County, New York on April 23, 1921. His family name was Abbate, but the spelling of his surname was changed to Abbote in military records by February 1942, when he registered for the draft. His parents were Nicola 'Nicholas' Abbate (18 Dec 1886 – Jun 1952), who was born at Laurenzana, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy, and immigrated to America at Ellis Island, Port of New York on June 12, 1901; and Lucy (Sollitto) Abbate (1891 – Jan 1957), who was born in Italy and immigrated to America about 1905. His parents married about 1915, and by 1917 lived at Utica, New York. His father was a bricklayer and mason.
He had at least three siblings: Rosemary (Abbate) Garro (8 Jun 1916 – 13 Nov 1982), Rosary (Abbate) Di Pietro (1918 – 2006), and Helen M. (Abbate) Chasteen (19 Feb 1923 – 14 Dec 1996). In 1917 the family lived at 874 Bleecker Street, Utica, New York. By 1930 the family home was at 934 Mary Street, Utica, New York.
Frank registered for the draft at Utica, New York on February 15, 1942. He was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he lived with his parents and was employed by Savage Arms Corporation in Utica. He completed two years of college, and worked as a stenographer and typist. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Utica, New York on April 26, 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces navigation training, and was assigned to the heavy bomber crew of Lt. Harry T. Nyland. The Nyland crew completed crew training in the States, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. The crew arrived at Station 137 by November 30, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.
Lt Abbote was killed in action on January 14, 1945, after his crew's aircraft, B-17G 43-37933 'Yankee Maid', which he was the Navigator, collided with another B-17 in the formation near Magdeburg, Germany. The aircraft lost an engine, dropped from formation, and was then attacked by German fighters. Lt Abbote was hit and killed by fire from an enemy fighter while in the nose preparing to bail out. His body was thrown from the aircraft during the crash landing two kilometers east of Redefin, Germany. He was buried initially in the Redefin cemetery. The other eight crew members survived and became prisoners of war.
After the war, his remains were permanently reinterred at Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, France.
Lt Nyland's crew:
• Nyland, Harry T – 2/Lt – Pilot – POW
• Rhett, William H – 2/Lt – Copilot – POW
• Abbote, Frank G – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Claxton, John D – Sgt – Engineer – POW
• Ovial, Angelo A – Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Costantino, Saverio T – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – POW
• Litka, Raymond L – Sgt – Chin Turret Gunner/Togglier – POW
• Wetzel, Francis J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – POW
• Kolb, Edward L – Sgt – Tail Gunner – POW
Source of information: www.findagrave.com