World War II Honoree

Norval W. Neel

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Randolph County, Indiana

Honored By

Joe Feaster

Relationship

Fellow Veteran

IN JUNE OF 1942, ENLISTED IN THE NAVY V-5 PROGRAM TO BECOME A NAVAL AVIATOR. HE TOOK HIS PRE-FLIGHT TRAINING AT UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, HIS PRIMARY FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS AT NORMAN, OKLAHOMA. RECEIVED HIS NAVY WINGS ON OCTOBER 27, 1943 AT CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. HIS NIGHT FLYING AND INSTRUMENT TRAINING WAS AT THE NAVY BASE AT ATLANTA AND FROM THERE HE TRAINED AT LOVE FIELD AT FORT WORTH, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO NAVAL AIR TRANSPORT SERVICE IN VR-1 AT PATUXENT, MARYLAND, VR-7 IN MIAMI, FLORIDA AND THE PACIFIC WING. TRAINED TO PILOT NAVY DC3'S AND THE DC 6 DURING HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE.