Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Robert R. Norman, who served as a pilot in the Pacific during World War II.
Robert Norman began his pilot training in Jacksonville, Texas. Norman went on to earn his wings at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and elected to undergo specialized fighter training at various air bases across the United States.
After completing his training Norman served with the 223rd Marine Fighter Squadron. Norman and the 223rd deployed to the Pacific island of Okinawa, where he and his fellow pilots prepared for the impending invasion of Japan. Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the subsequent surrender of Japan, the Marine Corps sent Norman to the 218th China Marine Fighter Squadron and stationed in Beijing, China.
During his deployment, the Chinese Civil War started when the Chinese communists and nationalist forces began fighting each other.
Norman’s base came under sporadic fire during the war. On one occasion while driving, Norman and a fellow pilot accidently strayed off their rout, coming under fire. After taking cover in a ditch, the men waited for the communist forces to stop firing and surrendered. The forces took them to a compound, where a Russian interpreter interrogated them. The Russian interpreter subsequently decided to release them along with a lieutenant who had been captured earlier on the condition they returned to their base. After making their way through several more ambushes, the men arrived safely back at their base and returned to the United States.
Norman left the Marine Corps July 27, 1946. After leaving the service, he attended college. During his time as a student, Norman remained in the Reserves and became one of the first pilots chosen to operate the new F-80 jet aircraft. He left the Reserves in 1951 as a captain.
We honor his service.
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Veterans History Project
This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
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We honor the service of Robert Norman.
Thoroughly enjoy reading AMERICAN History from the Brave Military who wrote Our Story. I as the Niece of Ensign Eugene A. GREENE
He was part of Squadron 6. He and his Squadron were responsible for the attack on Yamamoto’s ship during the Battle of Midway. He was ‘MIA’ after the attack, at the age of 20. He was later declared KIA. There is a Destroyer Escort named in his Honor. He was survived by his wife; however, had no children. He was one of the six GREENE men to serve in the Military during WWII. My Father, Francis Xavier GREENE enlisted in the Army Air-corps during WWII and the Air Force during Korea. I enlisted in the Army in 1983.