129038 Flt Cyril Howard 'Bud' Abbott

[78SqnHistory]

I wonder if anyone has any information on the 129038 Cyril Howard 'Bud' Abbott. He was a Bomb Aimer and commissioned on 4th September 1942, his previous number being 1585008. His service number suggests an enlistment of September 1941.

He joined 78 Squadron from 1658 Conversion Unit on 7th April 1943, possibly taking up the post of Squadron Bombing Leader, suggesting that he may have already completed a tour of operations elsewhere.

He only completes 2 operations with 78 Squadron before he is lost on the night of 22/23 October 1943 on ops to Kassel. His two completed ops are on the 27th August to Nurnberg and the 22 September 1943 to Hanover. He doesn't fly any operations in April, May, June or July.

Any information appreciated

Daz

[Terry]

Daz, He was commissioned from LAC wef 4 Sep 42, and was promoted to FO (on prob) w/s wef 4 Mar 43. This would suggest that at the time of his death he was an A/FLt. I suspect he wouldn't have had time to fit in a previous tour between being commissioned in Sep 42 and arriving at 78 Sqn from 1658 Conversion Unit in Apr 43. Regards, Terry

[78SqnHistory]

Terry,

thanks. He must have joined the Squadron as a 'spare bod' which I find a bit odd at that time of the war, but it would explain his lack of operations. He was older than most being born in 1909 and married in 1937. He left a widow and a young daughter.

Regards

Daz