Earl J King
Military
S/Sgt Norman A Sampson 359BS, 303BG, 8AF in the 'Office'.
Object Number - UPL 37103 - "S/Sgt Norman A Sampson of Mason City, Iowa, ball turret gunner on a Boeing B-17 Based at Molesworth, England, is shown at his position during a...
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. Ditched in North Sea 6-Sep-43 in B-17 42-3002 'Old Squaw'. Picked up by ASR Returned to duty (RTD). ETD.
Awards: DFC, AM (3 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-679128
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot / Squadron Commanding Officer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Old Squaw
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Missions
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407628.jpg.webp?itok=SpfDIv0I)
- Date: 6 September 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Buffalo Center, Winnebago, IA | 5 February 1921 | Son of Samuel P and Brita [Engedahl] Sampson. |
|
Enlisted |
7 August 1942 | ||
|
Other Ditched RTD |
English Channel | 6 September 1943 | Ditched in North Sea 6-Sep-43 in B-17 42-3002 'Old Squaw'. Picked up by ASR Returned to duty (RTD). |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
26 October 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Ozark, MO | 14 September 2010 | No Burial, cremated. |
|
Based |
Molesworth | Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
|
Born |
Mason City, IA |
Revisions
http://www.303rdbg.com/427sheets.html
This photo is not Norman Sampson but Earl J. King….. a member of Sheets Crew for 22 missions and also flew 7 other missions with different pilot
Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Clusters/DFC/EAME Ribbon
Photo should be identified as T/Sgt Earl J. King, BT gunner on the 303rd BG/ 427th BS Major Robert W. Sheets Crew, in position inside the ball turret of a B-17 Flying Fortress.
This photo is not Norman Sampson but Earl J. King….. a member of Sheets Crew for 22 missions and also flew 7 other missions with different pilot
Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Clusters/DFC/EAME Ribbon
Photo should be identified as T/Sgt Earl J. King, BT gunner on the 303rd BG/ 427th BS Major Robert W. Sheets Crew, in position inside the ball turret of a B-17 Flying Fortress.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self; Roll of Honor
