USS Abercrombie

William Warner Abercrombie -- born in Medford, Ore., on 24 July 1914 -- enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a seaman 2nd class at Kansas City, Kansas, on 27 August 1940. After undergoing elimination flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Kansas City, from 16 September to 5 October, Abercrombie received an honorable discharge the day before Christmas 1940, to accept an appointment as an aviation cadet, USNR, on 27 December. Three days later, the fledgling flyer arrived at the Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola, Fla., to begin his formal flight training.

Abercrombie underwent further instruction at NAS Miami, Fla., before he received his wings on 10 July 1941. Shortly thereafter, after receiving his ensign's stripe on 4 August 1941, he arrived at NAS Norfolk, Va., for temporary duty. There he joined Torpedo Squadron (VT) 8, established at NAS Norfolk on 2 September 1941 under the command of Lt. Cmdr. John C. Waldron.

Comprising part of the air group of the new aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-8), VT-8 trained under its veteran commanding officer during the waning weeks of peace. The squadron remained as one unit until February 1942, two months after the Japanese attack on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor that threw the United States into global war, when it was divided into two groups, one that remained ship-based under Waldron, and one that traveled to the Grumman aircraft plant on Long Island to take delivery of new Grumman TBF-1 Avenger s. Abercrombie, nicknamed "Abbie" by his squadron-mates, remained with the former.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Abercrombie (DE-343)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.