Norman E. Olson
Captain Norman E. Olson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Norman E. Olson |
Born | Winnipeg, Canada | March 19, 1915
Died | April 8, 1944 | (aged 29)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service | U.S. Army Air Force |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | |
Awards | |
Spouse(s) | Frances[2] |
Norman E. Olson (March 19, 1915 – April 8, 1944) was a U.S. Army Air Forces World War II flying ace. He shot down seven[2] enemy aircraft in the European theatre of World War II. Olson died in aerial combat on April 8, 1944.[3][4] He was the first Ace pilot of the 355th Fighter Group.[5]
Early life
[edit]He was born in Winnipeg, Canada and lived in Fargo, North Dakota. He graduated from Fargo High School. He spent two years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin attending Marquette university.[6] Before moving to Fargo, Olson spent time as a commercial photographer in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 1941 Olson enlisted in the United States Army.[2]
Career
[edit]Olson enlisted in the Army in 1941 and was stationed in Europe in 1943.[6] Olson was flying a P-47 when he destroyed an enemy aircraft Bf 109 in aerial combat over Siegen on February 20, 1944.[7] Olson and his unit were returning from a mission over a Nazi airdome Brunswick, Germany, when Olson was shot down by ground fire. The other fighters in Olson's unit only made one pass, but Olson made three.[2]
Awards
[edit]- Air Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- Congressional Gold Medal (2015)[1]
- Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement[N 1]
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
- Army Presidential Unit Citation
- Purple Heart
- United States Aviator Badge Army
- World War II Victory Medal
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b 113th Congress (23 May 2014). "H.R.685 – American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d "Capt.Olson, U.S. Ace Shot Down Near Brunswick". Washington, Evening Star. 9 May 1944. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Norman E. Olson". The Wall of Valor Project. The Wall of Valor Project. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ "Norman E Olson". Honor States. Honor States. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ "Norman E Olson". American Air Museum in Britain. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Fargo Ace Pilot". Bismarck Tribune. 5 July 1944. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ a b Hammel, Eric (1994). Air War Europa: America's Air War Against Germany in Europe and North Africa. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. p. 371. ISBN 979-8569101122. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
Further reading
[edit]- Hammel, Eric (2010) [1992]. Aces Against Japan. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9781890988081.
- Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak. Vol. 5. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0935553614.
Notes
[edit]- 1915 births
- 1944 deaths
- American World War II flying aces
- Military personnel from North Dakota
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II
- Aviators killed by being shot down
- Canadian emigrants to the United States