Norman Earl Ellis

Military
media-6382.jpeg UPL 6382 Paul D. Arnold Crew
Crew 703
466th BG - 787th BS

Standing Left to Right: Talmadge E. Tidwell (G), John F. Daley (R/O), Roland Teltzke (G), Lewis L. Barrett (G), Billie M. Higgins (G)

Kneeling Left to Right: Paul D. Arnold (P), Frank Wolcott (CP), Leonard Bubri (N), Norman Ellis (B), William Savory (FE)

This crew was an original crew of the 466th BG. They completed a 30 mission tour. Frank Wolcott would later command his own crew and then move on to be Assistant Group Operations Officer for the 466th BG. 466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 6382 - Paul D. Arnold Crew Crew 703 466th BG - 787th BS Standing Left to Right: Talmadge E. Tidwell (G), John F. Daley (R/O), Roland Teltzke (G),...

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sedan, KS 67361, USA 22 November 1920

Died

Ponca City, OK, USA 27 June 2014 Norman Earl Ellis of Ponca City died on Friday afternoon June 27, 2014 at the age of 93. He was born in Sedan, Kansas on November 22, 1920 to Earl Delos Ellis and Edith Lucilla Weaver Ellis. A 1938 graduate of Sedan High School, Mr. Ellis lettered in basketball, tennis, and was the doubles horseshoe champion. After high school, Norman attended Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, KS on a basketball scholarship. War was declared in 1941. After Pearl Harbor, Norman joined the Aviation Cadets and was sent to Fort Riley, KS where he joined the Army Air Corps. Basic pilot training was in Waco, TX. He then joined the glider pilots and completed ten months of training at Twentynine Palms, CA where he earned his glider pilot wings. Norman transferred to Bombardier training in Santa Ana, CA finishing school in Deming, NM earning his Bombardier wings. He joined a B24 squadron in Clovis, NM deploying to Adel Bridge, Scotland in 1943. He pulled 30 missions on B24s "Little Lulu" and "Sunshine Jane"; 15 missions over Germany and 15 missions over France. He played an integral part in the D-Day invasion and the St. Lo Breakthrough. On the way to England, Norman stopped at Herington, KS to marry Wanda Dunham. The two married in a private ceremony at the minister's home on February 9, 1943. Wanda took the bus home to Ponca City and Norman flew to England by way of Morrison Field in Florida. After Norman finished his tour of duty, he traveled to Sedan and picked up Wanda where they traveled to Miami Beach, FL for R&R. They then transferred to Midland, TX, then Monroe, LA, and as the war ended Norman was honorably discharged from active duty in Boise, ID. He continued in the reserves for many years and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. The Ellis family moved to Ponca City and Norman began work for Continental Oil Company. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Norman attended Oklahoma A&M earning a B.S in Geology and continued to work for Conoco in Ponca City for over 40 years. He was a Mason for 60 years. He coached YMCA basketball and baseball for many years and was a Scout Master for Explorer Scouts. Norman was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Ellis, his parents, three brothers, two sisters, and his granddaughter Nancy Ellis of Bartlesville.

Buried

Ponca City, OK, USA 30 June 2014 Resthaven Memorial Park Ponca City Kay County Oklahoma, USA
Sedan, KS 67361, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, p345

Norman Earl Ellis: Gallery (1 items)