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name
ASBORNSEN, Norman - Date of
birth
24 June 1910 -
Age
33 - Place of
birth
New Jersey -
Hometown
Hudson County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32305093 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
25 June 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, 20 miles of the Frisian Islands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Severin M. Asbornsen (father)
Nicoline (Henrikson) Asbornsen (mother)
Haldor A. Asbornsen (brother)
Marie J. Asbornsen (sister)
John Asbornsen (brother)
Sverre N. Asbornsen (brother)
SigridAsbornsen (sister)
Matthew A. Asbornsen (brother)
Fred Asbornsen (brother)
Thomas A. Asbornsen (brother)
Ethel G. Asbornsen (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3260 -
Data
Nickname: Angel's Tit
Type: B-17F
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 271
More information
S/Sgt Norman Asbornsen was sent overseas in May 1943.The formation was unescorted, and was soon heavily engaged by German fighters upon reaching the shore of Germany. A burst of machine gun fire evidently damaged the plane and wounded the pilot. The bail out signal was given but before the crew could respond, the aircraft exploded.
Only the navigator, 2nd Lt Nicholas Demchak survived and was picked up by a German boat. After the war, he stated about S/Sgt Asbornsen: "I believe he was killed or seriously wounded by fighters as a burst of machine-gun fire came quite close to me. And at the angle it seems to me the cockpit was hit also. Directly after that the bail-out call was given".
The pilot, 1st Lt Alonzo P. Adams III is buried at Ardennes. The other killed crew members are listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Military Cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, NARA, WWIImemorial, 100Bombgroup, www.ancestry.com Blaise Family Tree, https://airforce.togetherweserved.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, https://airforce.togetherweserved.com