World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Norman R. Crosson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cincinnati, Ohio
Honored By
A Grateful American
CAPTAIN, PILOT, B-24 LIBERATOR 'LITTLE EVA', 321ST SQUADRON (BOMBS AWAY), 90TH BOMB GROUP 'JOLLY ROGERS', 5TH AIR FORCE, SERVING IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. RETURNING FROM A BOMBING MISSION AGAINST A JAPANESE TROOP CONVOY NORTH OF BUNA ON DECEMBER 2, 1942, HE BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER FOUR PLANES. CAUGHT IN A BAD THUNDERSTORM THE PLANE RAN OUT OF GAS. THE CREW WAS ORDERED TO BAIL OUT. SIX PARACHUTED SAFELY AND THE FOUR OTHERS WHO DID NOT BAIL OUT WERE KILLED WHEN IT CRASHED NEAR THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA. HE WAS RESCUED 13 DAYS LATER SURVIVING ON LITTLE FOOD AND WATER.