Harold K Norris

Military

Collided with enemy aircraft on 26 November 1943 in B-17 #42-37821 'The Sweetest One'. Evaded.



Norris wrote up a detailed account of his evasion in France, being fed and sheltered by the French Resistance. A priest visited him and told him that the bodies of nine American airmen had been found and given the last rites. On the day they were buried Norris watched from an upstairs window as the procession went by - the Germans were out looking for the tenth crew member and were carrying out a house to house search. From Paris he was taken to Bordeaux - being passed from one guide to another en route - and eventually to the border with Spain where he was gudied across the Pyrenees with two other escapees, one British and one Canadian. They were collected and taken to Madrid by a member of the British Embassy, being the guests of honour at the Embassy's 1943 Christmas Day banquet. The collection of Allied airmen were taken by bus to Gibraltar - spending New Year's Day on the Rock -from where they were eventually picked up by a C-47 and flown back to England.

Connections

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Units served with

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Sweetest One
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Evaded

France 26 November 1943

Born

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 94th Bomb Group related to the service of Harold Norris.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1126 / MACR 1126, Losses of 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey pp. 385 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database