Abbie Abercrombie was born on July 24, 1914, in Medford, Oregon. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve on August 27, 1940, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy on December 16, 1940. Abercrombie was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy at NAS Pensacola, Florida, on June 3, 1941, and he received his designation as a Naval Aviator on July 10, 1941. Ensign Abercrombie next attended additional training at NAS Miami, Florida, and then at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, before joining VT-8 at NAS Norfolk in September 1941. He joined his squadron aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) at Norfolk after her commissioning in October 1941, and entered the Pacific Theater in March 1942, where he served aboard her during Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle's attack on Japan on April 18, 1942. Arriving at Pearl Harbor on May 26, 1942, his squadron aboard USS Hornet was immediately sent to protect Midway Atoll from Japanese attack. Ensign Abercrombie was Killed in Action on the first day of the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. He was officially listed as Missing in Action until being declared dead on June 5, 1943. The destroyer escort USS Abercrombie (DE-343) was named in his honor and served from 1944 to 1946, earning 4 Battle Stars for her combat service during the last year of World War II.

His Navy Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service beyond the call of duty as a pilot of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT in the 'Air Battle of Midway,' against enemy Japanese forces on June 4, 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Abercrombie, resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attack against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft and against an almost solid barrage of antiaircraft fire. His courageous action carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.