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Captain

Norman E. Olson
Norman E. Olson
Birth nameNorman E. Olson
Born(1915-03-19)March 19, 1915
Winnipeg, Canada
DiedApril 8, 1944(1944-04-08) (aged 29)
Buried
Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Allegiance United States
Service/branch U.S. Army Air Force
RankCaptain
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

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

Olson flew a P-47N Thunderbolt during his time in WWII. [7] The P-47N Thunderbolt was primarily used in the Pacific Theatre.

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

See also

References

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ a b c d "Capt.Olson, U.S. Ace Shot Down Near Brunswick". Washington, Evening Star. 9 May 1944. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Norman E. Olson". The Wall of Valor Project. The Wall of Valor Project. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Norman E Olson". Honor States. Honor States. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Norman E Olson". American Air Museum in Britain. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Fargo Ace Pilot". Bismarck Tribune. 5 July 1944. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  7. ^ 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

  • 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

  1. ^ His flying Cross citation was given for his aerial combat as a fighter pilot in the 357th. [3]
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