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| Howard Norain, Feb. 24, 1943 |
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| Recent Address: |
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6838 N. Dowagiac Avenue, Chicago, IL 60646-2835 |
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: Edward and Stella |
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| Hometown: |
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Chicago, IL |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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February 24 1943 |
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| Service Number: |
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36734667 |
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| Bomb Group: |
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40th |
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| Squadron: |
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45th |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Chakulia, India 2/26/45 |
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| Missions Flown: |
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17 |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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| Targets: |
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Rangoon, Singapore, Japanese cities, Victory Flight on September 2, 1945 |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 4 Bronze Battle Stars, Overseas Service Bar, Good Conduct Medal, Air Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster |
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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AF Mech. School, Amarillo, TX Mar-Sep 1943; Electrical School, Chanute Fld, IL Sep-Nov 1943; B-29 School Nov 1943-Jan 1944 |
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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AP Mechanic/Gunner |
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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Sergeant |
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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44-61529 Virginia Tech |
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| Were you a POW? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Were you interned? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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December 15 1945 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| Draftsman and In-Plant Printing |
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| Proud to have been a member. We had a great crew. |
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| Comments: |
| On our mission flown August 14, 1945, we hit the Hikari Naval Arsenal. Upon returning we lost our #1 engine and as a result we landed at Iwo Jima. The following day we heard that Japan had accepted the surrender terms. Our final flight over Japan would be flown Sept. 2, 1945, and we got a glimpse of the USS Missouri anchored at Tokyo Bay. In October 1945, we prepared our B-29 for our flight back to the United States landing at Mather Field after a successful trip. Stops along the way included Kwajalein and Hawaii.One final note -- we lost our Radar Operator, John M. Hodges, on a POW mission over Japan on August 30, 1945. It was a sad day for our crew! |
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| Howard Norain, c.2000 |
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