World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James F. Norcom
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS JULY 31, 1942 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. SERVED AS A B-17 ‘FLYING FORTRESS’ BOMBER WAIST GUNNER ASSIGNED TO THE 534TH BOMB SQUADRON, 381ST BOMB GROUP, U.S. 8TH AIR FORCE ‘MIGHTY EIGHTH’. HIS UNIT WAS BASED AT THE RIDGEWELL ROYAL AIR FORCE STATION, ESSEX, ENGLAND, UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE STATION #167. ON HIS 22ND MISSION, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1944 WHEN HIS BOMBER WAS HIT BY A FLAK BURST IN THE WAIST AREA DURING A BOMB MISSION ON THE AIRFIELD AT RHEIMS/CHAMPAIGNE, FRANCE. REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION AND LOST AT SEA ON THE DAY OF HIS DEATH AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE CAMBRIDGE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AIR MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE AIR MEDAL WAS AWARDED TO THE SERGEANT FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL FLIGHT.