Thielan Norman Eugene, Sr.

Name:

Norman Eugene, Sr. Thielan

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

14057011

Unit:

449th Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomber Group, Medium

Date of Death:

1971-11-03

State:

Alabama

Cemetery:

Montgomery Memorial Cemetery, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart

Comments:

Norman Eugene Thielan, Sr. was born on July 30, 1920. He was the son of Frank Raymond Thielan and Lottie Popkins Thielan.

Norman served in the 449th Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomber Group, Medium, as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner on the B-26 #41-31741 "Winnie Dee II" during World War II.

On August 12, 1944, his crew took off from Station 485 (RAF Andrewsfield) in England on a mission to induce German fighters to scramble so they could be engaged by escorting fighters. Shot down by flak at 20H40, their plane exploded in flight and crashed in l'Être in the commune of Saint-Pierre-du-Regard. All members were killed in this incident except for SSgt Thielan, who was able to evacuate by parachute. He was later taken as a prisoner and sent to Stalag Luft III-C in Alt-Drewitz, Brandenburg, Poland.

Norman died on November 3, 1971, at the age of 51. He is now buried in the Montgomery Memorial Cemetery, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net