World War II Honoree

Gustave Robert Nordgren

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New Britain, Connecticut

HE SERVED AS A PILOT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER FLYING B-24S FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN FLYING C46'S AS A MEMBER OF THE 8TH COMBAT CARGO SQUADRON. HE NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH WHEN, IN BAD WEATHER, HIS PLANE CRASHED IN LEYTE GULF. HE AND HIS SQUADRON WERE ELATED THE DAY THEY SAW THE 'WHITE PLANE' FLYING OVERHEAD. THE PLANE CARRIED JAPANESE DIPLOMATS TO THEIR PEACE MEETING WITH THE ALLIES AND SIGNALED THAT HE WOULD BE GOING HOME TO HIS FAMILY SOON.