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.
Contact Info
Home Town Buffalo, New york
Last Address Brooksville, Florida
Date of Passing Jul 03, 2002
Location of Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery - Buffalo, New York
Clarence "Bill" Abendschein had entered the US Navy at age 16, with a forged birth certificate. I knew him as "Uncle Bill". Not a blood relative, but instead he was a local neighbor who my parents selected as my Godfather.
He entertained me at a young age with stories of his Navy flying. I picked up snippets here and there as I grew older, and I just wish I had more details now. I missed out on getting to know him better while I was an adult, as he moved to Florida after his retirement from the Niagara Mohawk Power Company, where he worked as a "Lineman" and "Line Crew Foreman".
With my growing interest in Navy history, I feel I cheated myself out of a great learning opportunity by not keeping in better contact with him after he moved to Florida. I cherish the interest the man took in me. This sight gives me a small chance to honor him.
AW1 Carl Mottern, USNR, RET
Profile Sponsor
Other Comments:
Last Duty Station: Naval Air Reserve Unit Niagara Falls NY
Best Friends The guys he flew with on LTjg Lubberts Crew, designated Crew "A".
Other Memories Flying over Japanese POW camps holding US and allied POWs. They always waved thier wings to let the boys in the camp know they were not forgotten.