Son of Mrs. Rosa Norris who resided in Teague, Texas.

Wyatt served as a First Lieutenant & Pilot on B-24J #44-40962, 23rd Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Freestone County, Texas prior to the war.

B-24J #44-40962 took off, with a crew of 10 & 5 other B-24's, from Morotai Island on a combat mission over a Japanese fleet in North Borneo.

After a successful bombing run, which sunk the Japanese oiler Kyoei Maru, while returning to base B-24J #44-40962 radioed that they were damaged by ground anti-aircraft fire and were bailing out 20 miles southwest of Siaoe island. 8 of the crew were able to bailout and only 4 survived and were later picked up.

Wyatt was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.

He was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-818200

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-24J #44-40962:

Chapman, Albert T, Jr ~ Sgt, Gunner, GA
Crum, Charles D ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, PA
Hansen, Grant N ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, UT
Norris, Wyatt A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, TX
Patrick, Melton D ~ Sgt, Gunner, TN
Zimmerli, Frederick S ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, KS

Those rescued were 2nd Lt. Carlos C. Page (Navigator), S/Sgt. Thomas J. Honsowitz (Engineer), Sgt. Paul P. Makuchan (Gunner), and Sgt. Edwin I. Mills (Gunner).

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Son of Mrs. Rosa Norris who resided in Teague, Texas.

Wyatt served as a First Lieutenant & Pilot on B-24J #44-40962, 23rd Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Freestone County, Texas prior to the war.

B-24J #44-40962 took off, with a crew of 10 & 5 other B-24's, from Morotai Island on a combat mission over a Japanese fleet in North Borneo.

After a successful bombing run, which sunk the Japanese oiler Kyoei Maru, while returning to base B-24J #44-40962 radioed that they were damaged by ground anti-aircraft fire and were bailing out 20 miles southwest of Siaoe island. 8 of the crew were able to bailout and only 4 survived and were later picked up.

Wyatt was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.

He was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-818200

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-24J #44-40962:

Chapman, Albert T, Jr ~ Sgt, Gunner, GA
Crum, Charles D ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, PA
Hansen, Grant N ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, UT
Norris, Wyatt A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, TX
Patrick, Melton D ~ Sgt, Gunner, TN
Zimmerli, Frederick S ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, KS

Those rescued were 2nd Lt. Carlos C. Page (Navigator), S/Sgt. Thomas J. Honsowitz (Engineer), Sgt. Paul P. Makuchan (Gunner), and Sgt. Edwin I. Mills (Gunner).

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~