Ples Wilford Norwood Jr

Military

Ples Norwood was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group / 409th Bomb Squadron. He was on B-24 "Red Ass" #41-23740 when it had to crash-land in Spanish Morocco on 25 February 1943, with Pilot Lt Jacob (Jake) Epting and 14 other passengers including Norwood. Arrested and interned for some time in Spain, he was released and returned to England and his unit in the Spring of 1943.



Ples Norwood flew as an Engineer / Top Turret gunner on 25 missions, including on Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943. He flew B-24 Liberator (serial number #41-24298) nicknamed "Queenie".

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
First Lieutenant Llewellyn L. Brown and First Lieutenant Robert J. Quinlivan admire the nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23724) nicknamed "Flying Cock" at Alconbury. Image stamped on reverse: '231046' [Censor no].' passed for publication 6 Nov 1942' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'PHOTO SHOWS: Pilot and co-Pilot of a "Liberator" on which is painted their mascot the "Flying Cock"', photographed at a U.S. Army Air Corps station somewhere in England. They are 1st Lieut. L.L. Brown (left),
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-431013
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ground crew
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14042973 and O-434752
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Red Ass
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Queenie
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Knox County, Tennessee, United States 11 July 1921 the son of Ples W. and Flora E. (Burkhart) Norwood

Enlisted

Fort Mc Pherson, Atlanta, Georgia, United States 4 January 1941

Died

Knox County, Tennessee, United States 22 August 1987

Buried

Woodlawn Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, United States

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / roster

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
US 1940 Census
SSDI (Social Security Death Index)

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / brother