Robert "Gabby" Gadbois

FALMOUTH — Robert "Gabby" Gadbois, 88, of Falmouth, died on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, in Falmouth, where he was a longtime resident.

Mr. Gadbois was the author of "Hellcat tales: A U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot in World War II," which chronicles his training as a naval pilot, where Ted Williams and Johnny Pesky were among his fellow cadets. Hellcat Tales chronicles his war experiences as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific, flying off of the aircraft carrier, USS Randolph, including flying missions over Tokyo, providing support to marines landing on Iwo Jima, and fighting in the skies over Okinawa, activities for which he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses (DFCs). He was watching a movie on the Randolph when a kamikaze plane rocked the carrier, killing 28.

Mr. Gadbois was born in Providence, R.I., living with his family near the Dexter Street Proving Ground. He attended Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island).

After the war, Mr. Gadbois was a Rhode Island state trooper based in the Chepachet and Scituate barracks. Later, he was an executive with the Boy Scouts of America, predominantly with the Narragansett Council, and was for many years involved with Camp Yawgoog in southern Rhode Island, and as camp director at Camp Waukenau in Connecticut and Camp Adams Pond in New Hampshire. In later years, Mr. Gadbois worked with Iron Mountain in Boston, retiring at age 82.

He is survived by his daughter, Millie Gadbois of Cairo, Egypt; sister, Rita Simonton of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and brother, Richard Gadbois of Cumberland, R.I.

Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 475 Main St., Falmouth, MA 02540. Burial is private. For online guest book, please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.