World War II Honoree

Guillermo Abrego

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

JOINED THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS ON OCTOBER 1, 1944. AFTER BASIC TRAINING HE WAS ASSIGNED TO FLIGHT TRAINING IN THE B-24 LIBERATOR AND SPECIALIZED AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS TO SUPPRESS THE JAPANESE ACTIVITY IN THE AREA. HE WAS ON A BOMBING MISSION TO THE MARCUS ISLANDS, A JAPANESE STRONGHOLD IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS GROUP. AFTER COMING OUT OF A BOMB RUN, THE PLANE WAS STRUCK BY FLAK THROWN UP BY THE JAPANESE ON THE GROUND. IT TOOK FOUR DIRECT HITS, BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE AND HAD TO DROP ANYTHING THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. FINALLY THE PLANE COMMANDER ORDERED ALL TO BAIL OUT. THE EXITING OF ALL THE CREW EXCEPT HIM, ALLOWED THE PLANE TO STAY AIRBORNE AND INCREASE ALTITUDE. HE FLEW THE CRIPPLED AIRCRAFT FOR 600 MILES FOR 6 HOURS BY HIMSELF. HE TOLD THE PILOT THAT IF HE WAS TO DIE HE WOULD DIE IN THE PLANE. HE LANDED AT TINIAN ISLAND WHICH HAD THREE RUNWAYS. HE CHOSE THE ONE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. UPON LANDING HE SAW HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT SO HE TRIED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN BUT THE DAMAGED PLANE SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A PILE OF DEBRIS. HE WAS CRUSHED IN THE PILOT'S SEAT. HE DIED ON JUNE 19, 1945.