World War II Honoree

Sam Abravanel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Sam Abravanel

Relationship

Self

TECHNICAL SERGEANT. WAS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. HE RECEIVED TWO DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSE, FIVE AIR MEDALS, FOUR STARS ON THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ONE STAR ON THE AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS MEDAL, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE FLEW 35 COMBAT MISSIONS ON A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER. THE PLANE WAS NAMED THE 'KICKAPOO KID'. HE WAS WITH THE 7TH AIR FORCE, 27TH BOMB SQUADRON. HE WAS THE RADIO OPERATOR, THE WAIST GUNNER AND THE SQUADRON'S COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER. ONE OF THE PICTURES APPEARS IN THE TIME LIFE BOOK ROAD TO TOKYO ON PAGES 38 AND 39. THERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF TWO PHOSPHOROUS BOMBS DROPPED ON HIS SQUADRON DROPPED BY JAPANESE PLANES NEAR IWO JIMA. (HE TOOK THAT PICTURE)