Earl C. Nordgren was born on July 4, 1920. He was the son of William Fredrick Nordgren and Meta Alvine Bertha Kamin Nordgren. He resided in Wisconsin prior to the war. Earl served as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator on C-47A #43-15493, 84th Troop Carrier Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

Their plane took off from Maisoncelles, France on a Glider Towing mission over Wesel, Germany. The aircraft was hit by flak while towing a glider as part of the Rhein crossing (Operation Varsity). The aircraft was first hit in the right-wing behind the engine and subsequently near the navigator's station and in the centre of the aircraft. The two gliders (CG-4A's 43-39755 and 43-27466) were released and the aircraft crashed. One of the crew members was able to bail out.

Airmen who perished on C-47A #43-15493:
Deer, Victor R - Capt, Pilot, IN
Gibson, Bryce C, Jr - 1st Lt, Navigator, TX
Nordgren, Earl C - S/Sgt, Radio Operator, WI
Trachta, Eldred - 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CO
T/Sgt. Paul B. LeFever - survived the crash and the war

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://aviation-safety.net