The current guardian of this Remembrance Page is Griffin Colvin-Family.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page,
please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s)
HERE
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates 06E 124
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
He was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on April 20, 1966. CDR Abbott was reported to have died in captivity 7 days later, on April 27, 1966. He was posthumously promoted to Captain, and his remains were returned to the United States on March 13, 1974 and Identified in April 17, 1974 Capt Abbott is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Name of Award
Prison of War Medal
Year Awarded
1966
Details behind Award:
Commander John Abbott (NSN: 0-505134), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from April 20, 1966 until his death in captivity on or about April 27, 1966.
Action Date: April 20 - 27, 1966
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Division: Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)
Comments/Citation:
Name of Award
Distiguished Flying Cross X5
Years Awarded
1950
1952
1965
1966
1966
Details behind Awards:
Awarded for actions during the Korean War
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign John Abbott (NSN: 0-505134), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights in the Korean Theater during the period 4 July to 25 September 1950. As a pilot of a fighter plane, Ensign Abbott participated in thirty-five strike missions over enemy territory.
Action Date: July 4 - September 25, 1950
Service: Navy
Rank: Ensign
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade John Abbott (NSN: 0-505134), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement and distinguished leadership while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a fighter aircraft attached to Fighter Squadron FIFTY-THREE (VF-53), based on board the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), during attacks against enemy forces over hostile North Korean territory on 15 January 1952. As Division Leader of a flak-suppression element escorting attack bombers on a strike mission against an important and heavily defended rail and supply center near Yangdok, North Korea, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Abbott preceded the attack bombers into the target area and with utter disregard for his own personal safety and in the face of extremely intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, led his team in repeated bombing and strafing attacks against these anti-aircraft gun positions which were concealed in treacherous mountain terrain. His aggressiveness, courageous leadership and outstanding airmanship enabled his division to suppress the flak so thoroughly that no damage was sustained by the attack bomber elements during their attacks. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Abbott personally destroyed three heavy gun positions and silenced several others. His gallant and untiring devotion to duty was at all time in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: January 15, 1952
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Company: Fighter Squadron 53 (VF-53)
Division: U.S.S. Essex (CV-9)
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Commander John Abbott (NSN: 0-505134), United States Navy, was awarded a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Strike Leader and Pilot of an attack aircraft attached to Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN (VA-113), in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63), during operations in the Republic of Vietnam against the Viet Cong on 22 December 1965.
Action Date: 22-Dec-65
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Company: Attack Squadron 113 (VA-113)
Division: U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Commander John Abbott (NSN: 0-505134), United States Navy, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Division Leader and Pilot of an attack aircraft attached to Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN (VA-113), in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63), in operations against a vital bridge in North Vietnam on 20 April 1966.
Action Date: 20-Apr-66
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Company: Attack Squadron 113 (VA-113)
Division: U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Commander John Abbott (NSN: 0-505134), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
A (shortened) history of the Olathe Naval Air Station [ONAS]
The Prairie Navy landed in Johnson County eight decades ago with the construction and opening of the Olathe Naval Air Station. The site is now the New Century AirCenter.
The bygone military base was dedicated on Oct. 1,1942 in response to the increased need for air stations and naval reserve aviation bases as the United States entered World War II.
Over the course of its 27 years in operation, ONASls role was constantly in flux: It first served as a flight training facility for naval cadets, then as a training center and support facility for the Naval Air Transport Service in the latter years of WWII, and finally as a training center for Navy and Marine reservists in the Korean War and in the early years of the Cold War.
The naval air base also was the temporary home for the Air Force Reserve's 442d Troop Carrier Wing from 1950 to 1955 prior to its relocation to Grandview Airport, Missouri, later renamed Richards-Gebaur AFB. ONAS also became one of 28 radar stations established throughout the nation in 1952 by the Air Forcels Air Defense Command. The Olathe Air Force Station provided air defense radar coverage of the Kansas City area.
Units of the Navy, Marines and Air Force are gone. An Army Reserve detachment remains.
Despite the ONAS not having a household name, like some other bases, there is no doubt that the individuals based at the "Great Prairie Navy" made a significant contribution to preserving freedom and liberty both at home and abroad.
Over the past 55 years, under the direction of the Johnson County Airport Commission, the site of the former naval air base has become a growing economic hub for Johnson County with two busy airports and increased, ongoing commercial and industrial development at the New Century AirCenter.
A flashback is in order. From Johnson County farmland, the Olathe Naval Air Station eventually spanned about 2,000 acres with three runways, 14 secondary fields and eventually 44 buildings to train and accommodate mostly Navy and Marine personnel for almost three decades.
It was a massive complex with three large hangars, including one with a control tower; storage and training facilities; clubs for enlisted personnel and officers; and barracks for Prairie sailors.
ONAS had all the comforts and amenities of a large military base with mess halls, a laundry, a bowling alley, a chapel, a hospital, a cold storage building with free ice, post office and small Post Exchange. The front gate had a small brig and a pass building for visitors to enter the base. Kinnick Hall featured an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
The Prairie Navy also included a few notable Americans.
The late John Glenn, future astronaut and U.S. senator, was in the first class to be trained at the base, making his first solo flight in a military training plane. Stearman yellow two-seater biplanes, nicknamed "yellow perils", were used to train pilots.
...
Another notable pilot who trained at ONAS was former TV game show host Bob Barker. He enlisted in the Navy Reserve in 1943 to train as a fighter pilot but did not serve on active duty. His military service ended with the war in 1945.
Other Memories LT Abbott served at NAS Olathe, Kansas, from January to December 1955, and then served with the Navy ROTC detachment at Yale University from December 1955 to September 1956. He served with the Service School Command at NS Great Lakes, Illinois, from September 1956 to June 1957, and then served as air operations officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) from June 1957 to August 1959.
Griffin Colvin-Family.
