World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Marion Francis Norman
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 1 DECEMBER 1942 AT KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN. HE FLEW IN AN AERIAL GUNNER POSITION ABOARD A B-24J LIBERATOR BOMBER (TAIL #44-40332) ON A FERRY MISSION FROM CALIFORNIA TO THE 5TH AIR FORCE, 380TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, STATIONED AT FENTON AIRFIELD SOUTH OF DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA. ON 5 MAY 1944, JUST AFTER TAKE-OFF FROM HICKAM AIRFIELD IN HAWAII, HIS AIRCRAFT SUFFERED AN ONBOARD FUEL MALFUNCTION AND CRASHED 6 MILES FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, NEAR AIEA ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU. THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES UPON IMPACT, KILLING ALL ONBOARD.