World War II Honoree

Norman Gordon Back

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Billings, Noble County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER AND AERIAL GUNNER OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA (CBI) AREA, ABOARD B-29 'SUPERFORTRESS' VERY-HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT, DURING THE WAR. AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER-GUNNER, CHECKED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE FLIGHT, MADE REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS IN FLIGHT TO CORRECT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, ASSISTED IN THE OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS, POWER PLANT COMPONENTS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. ALSO SERVED AS AN AERIAL GUNNER WHEN UNDER ATTACK FROM THE AIR. HIS UNIT SERVED PRIMARILY AS A STRATEGIC BOMBING ORGANIZATION, ATTACKING THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS, INCLUDING MANUFACTURING, DOCKING AND REPAIR FACILITIES, SHIPYARDS, HARBORS, RAILWAY MARSHALLING YARDS, AIRFIELDS, AND THE JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM, INCLUDING AIRCRAFT FACTORIES, AND OIL STORAGE FACILITIES. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.