George Edward Abbott was born on April 8, 1925, in Mount Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Edward A. Abbott Jr. and Anna McKown Abbott. He enlisted in the service on October 18, 1943. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Togglier/ Bombardier of B-17 #43-38172 and was nicknamed "Lovely Julie," during World War II.

On October 15, 1944, during a bombing mission over Cologne, Germany, the aircraft was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire. A flak shell hit the nose of the plane, killing SSgt Abbott and destroying vital instruments and the oxygen system. Despite the extensive damage, including the loss of the nose section and limited instrumentation, the pilot managed to return the crippled B-17 to its base at Nuthampstead, England. Flying at a lower altitude due to the damaged oxygen supply, the aircraft was safely landed, saving the rest of the crew.

SSgt Abbott is now buried in the Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Mount Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. George E. Abbott's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 21, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: www.398th.org, www.americanairmuseum.com