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Personal info

Full name
TRUAX, Norman Harold
Date of birth
27 April 1913
Age
31
Place of birth
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Hometown
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska

Military service

Service number
37472042
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
495th Bombardment Squadron,
344th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
6 October 1944
Place of death
Angeren, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 43 11

Immediate family

Members
Norman E. Truax (father)
Theolinda C. Truax (mother)
Naomi M. Truax (sister)
Gwen M. (Thrane) Truax (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95918
Data
Type: B-26B
Nickname: Nick's Chick II
Destination: Arnhem, the Netherlands
Mission: Bombing of a highway bridge
MACR: 9219

More information

S/Sgt Norman H Truax graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1931. He was employed as a salesman at Roberts Dairy.

Immediately after dropping bombs over the target, the aircraft was hit by flak. The aircraft immediately burst into flames. Flames appeared to come from the rear bomb bay. The aircraft appeared to be under control just before the tail section broke off and the aircraft blew up.

Three crew members managed to bail out and survived. Three men were killed.

S/Sgt Truax is remembered at Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska with a memorial marker.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com