Carl A. Nord was born on November 30, 1920, in Corning, Iowa. He was the son of Oscar F. Nord and Lola M. John Nord.
Carl served in the 863rd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B-24 #42-94798 during World War II. It was the very first mission for the 493rd Bomb Group, based in Debach, England, when 36 B24s took off for their target on June 6, 1944. But when they reached their objective, a road and railroad crossing in Lisieux, France, the target was obscured by clouds. The decision was made to turn the planes back without dropping their bombs.
On their way home around 10:28, at 11,000 feet, 44-40471 collided with 42-94798 piloted by 1Lt Russell. Both planes crashed into the west of the English Channel. A witness stated “the right-wing of A/C (aircraft) 471 struck the tail of A/C 789. A/C 471 was seen to disintegrate, and both A/C 471 and A/C 789 were seen to disappear into the overcast. One to two chutes were seen out of both A/C 471 and A/C 789.
All men aboard the two B-24s were killed, and all were declared as Missing in Action. These 20 airmen were memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France. But, as per MACR, Sgt Tuohy survived and was taken as a prisoner. 2Lt Nord has a cenotaph located in the Atlantic Cemetery, Iowa.
The crew of #44-40471:
Capt Jack G. W. Cooper Pilot
2lt Frank N Hancock Co-Pilot
2lt Joseph L Jr Montague Navigator
2lt James C. Dillon Navigator
2lt Carl A. Nord Bombardier
T/Sgt John E Erickson Radio Operator
S/Sgt Carl A. NordOrley W Mills Top Turret Gunner
Sgt James D Tuohy Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt Earl D Koenig Nose Gunner
Sgt Cornelius Snoey Tail Gunner
Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.ww2research.com