Memorial

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Capt Norman L. Whelan attended Bowling Green University. He had been employed by the Unemployment Compensation Commission.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Lexington, Kentucky on 14 August 1942.

Statement of 2nd Lt. Merlin M. Goldberg:
"I was flying as pilot in no. 2 position of the 4th element, and at about ten seconds after bombs away I observed an explosion of a direct flak hit in the waist section of aircraft B-17G 42-97632. At this time I also saw what appeared to be a secondary explosion in the interior of the aircraft as fire shot out of the nose. The aircraft disintegrated from about the horizontal stabilizer to the trailing edge of the wing. The tail section floated back through the formation and the forward section nosed downward. No flames or smoke were visable. I saw no crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes open."

The entire crew was killed. The remains were taken to the Reserve Hospital 101, Olympia Village at Döberitz. They were initially buried at the POW Cemetery at Elsgrund-Döbertiz.

Upon disinterment of the remains of the American deceased in November-December 1946, the body of Capt Whalen was found in a mass grave, together with Sgt Hugh Boyd (also buried at Ardennes) and Anthony J. Spera.

Two crew members are still missing in action: George Zenz and Frank Adams.