Norman E. Olson

Captain Norman E. Olson
Birth name	Norman E. Olson
Born	(1915-03-19)March 19, 1915 Winnipeg, Canada
Died	April 8, 1944(1944-04-08) (aged 29)
Buried	Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	U.S. Army Air Force
Rank	Captain
Unit	355th Fighter Group *357th Fighter Squadron
Awards	Air Medal American Campaign Medal Army Good Conduct Medal Congressional Gold Medal[1] Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Army Presidential Unit Citation Purple Heart United States Aviator Badge Army World War II Victory Medal
Spouse(s)	Frances[2]

Norman E. Olson (March 19, 1915 – April 8, 1944) was a U.S. Army Air Forces World War II flying ace. He shot down seven[2] enemy aircraft in the European theatre of World War II. Olson died in aerial combat on April 8, 1944.[3][4] He was the first Ace pilot of the 355th Fighter Group.[5]

Early life

He was born in Winnipeg, Canada and lived in Fargo, North Dakota. He graduated from Fargo High School. He spent two years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin attending Marquette university.[6] Before moving to Fargo, Olson spent time as a commercial photographer in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 1941 Olson enlisted in the United States Army.[2]

Career

Olson flew a P-47N Thunderbolt during his time in WWII.[7] The P-47N Thunderbolt was primarily used in the Pacific Theatre.

Olson enlisted in the Army in 1941 and was stationed in Europe in 1943.[6] Olson was flying a P-47 when he destroyed an enemy aircraft Bf 109 in aerial combat over Siegen on February 20, 1944.[7] Olson and his unit were returning from a mission over a Nazi airdome Brunswick, Germany, when Olson was shot down by ground fire. The other fighters in Olson's unit only made one pass, but Olson made three.[2]

Awards

• Air Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• Army Good Conduct Medal
• Congressional Gold Medal (2015)[1]
• Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement[N 1]
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
• Army Presidential Unit Citation
• Purple Heart
• United States Aviator Badge Army
• World War II Victory Medal

See also

• List of World War II aces from the United States
• List of World War II flying aces

References

1. 113th Congress (23 May 2014). "H.R.685 – American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
2. "Capt.Olson, U.S. Ace Shot Down Near Brunswick". Washington, Evening Star. 9 May 1944. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
3. "Norman E. Olson". The Wall of Valor Project. The Wall of Valor Project. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
4. "Norman E Olson". Honor States. Honor States. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
5. "Norman E Olson". American Air Museum in Britain. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
6. "Fargo Ace Pilot". Bismarck Tribune. 5 July 1944. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
7. Hammel, Eric (1994). Air War Europa: America's Air War Against Germany in Europe and North Africa. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. p. 371. ISBN 979-8569101122. Retrieved 8 October 2021.

Further reading

• Hammel, Eric (2010) [1992]. Aces Against Japan. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9781890988081.
• Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak. Vol. 5. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0935553614.

Notes

1. His flying Cross citation was given for his aerial combat as a fighter pilot in the 357th.[3]