Gerkin Clyde Norris was the son of Gerkin Clyde Norris and Carrie E Arrowood. Siblings: Mamie Norris, Helen Norris, James Doc Norris, Mary Jo Norris, and Imogene Norris.
Enlisted September 24, 1942, in Camp Forrest, TN
Joined the Army Air Corps
Crew of the Boeing B-17G-20-BO Fortress c/n 6652 – #42-31538 GY-V :
Pilot, 2nd Lt. Perry Cavos
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Michael D. O’Grady
Navigator, 2nd Lt. Richard D. Wright
Bombardier, 2nd Lt. Julius J. Monticone
Top Turret Gunner, T/Sgt. Gerkin C. Norris Jr
Radio Operator, T Sgt. Howard Kline
Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt. George P. Amoroso
Left Waist Gunner, S/Sgt. Samuel C. Sin
Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt. James J Allie
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt. Roger W. Collins
The plane had a midair collision with 42-31236, because they were being attacked by German aircraft, a Focke Wulf 190 of JG 26. Both planes crashed in Raalten, the Netherlands, on January 11, 1944.
Norris’ B-17 crashed near the farm of the Kremer family, Nieuw-Heeten. The other plane crashed several minutes later on land near the farm of the Bessenbinder family, Koldeweesweg, Nieuw-Heeten, approximately one mile from the first plane’s crash location. The tail was broken off and there had been an explosion inside the plane. All 10 men were killed instantly.
(source letter 10 Dec 1945 – Community of Raalte, Holland)
News clip – T/Sgt – Gerkin C. Norris Jr. – Flight Engineer
via Jack Collins, nephew of Tailgunner Collins
Sgt. G. C. Norris Killed in Action
————-
Sgt. G. C. Norris, previously reported missing in action since January 11th, following an air raid on Germany was reported killed in action on the same date, the War Department notified his parents last Thursday
F l i g h t – E n g i n e e r – o n – B – 1 7
He volunteered for army duty in September 1942, while employed at the Richmond Hosiery Mills in Rossville. He served as a flight engineer aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress, and went overseas in October 1943. Sgt. Norris was a graduate of East Lake Junior High School, and attended Chattanooga Vocational High School two years. He was widely known in the East Lake and Rossville community. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gert C. Norris, one brother, James Doc Norris, four sisters, Mrs. O. B. Stewart, Savannah, GA; Mrs. Charles Petetz, Lakeview, GA; Misses Mary Jo and Imogene Norris of Chattanooga.
Buried at Forest Hills Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN.
- Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Date of birth: 26 July 1923
- Date of death: 11 January 1944
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 367th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Forest Hills Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Gerkin C. Norris Jr.
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