Marvin Dowdy Norton (USNA'39)

[keith A]

Enters flight school in September 1941. Qualifies as a pilot in 1942 (?). He serves in the USN until the 1960s. His medal bars indicate a lot of service in WW2 but despite being a qualified pilot I can only see an Air Medal (with a "1" device?). He nevertheless has five battle stars (two silver, three bronze) on his Asiatic-pacific campaign medal together with Philippine campaign medals.

He does not appear to have served in the Korean or Vietnam wars.

Can anyone shed light on his WW2 service?

regards

Keith

[RSwank]

His Obit here gives a little more info, particularly in the early part of WWII:

http://www.coronadonewsca.com/obitua...389caa3d3.html

Before flight training he served on the USS Witchita.

[R Leonard]

All I've got.

Marvin Dowdy Norton Jr (082697) -
9/4/1941 - ENS USN, NAS Pensacola attach for HTA flight training
2/6/1942 - LTJG USN, NAS Pensacola designated NA # 10999
6/15/1942 - LT USN, Date of rank from 1 Jul 1942 USN Register
10/26/1942 - LT USN, VT-10 USS Enterprise (CV-6)
11/15/1942 - LT USN, VT-10 MCAB Guadalcanal
3/15/1944 - LCDR USN, Date of rank from 1 Jul 1944 USN Register

And if he had a device on his air medal ribbon indicating an additional award, correctly it should be a small bronze star. One bronze star for each subsequent award up to 4 stars for 5 total awards. If he had a total of 6 air medals it would be a single silver star. The USN, during his entire service career did not use numbers to denote additional awards. On his Asiatic Pacific ribbon, as you describe it, 2 silver stars and 3 bronze equals 13 credited campaigns.

[keith A]

This is weird. 13 campaigns is impossible isn't it? The red "1" on the air medal is a mystery.

https://navy.togetherweserved.com/us...rson&ID=441849

The badges show service on the Valley Forge and with training squadron 10, as well as USS Gurke (which went into service in 1945). I wonder if the website is incorrect?

K

[keith A]

He commanded the USS Gurke 1957-58.

[keith A]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/110665062@N04/32010495678

Found this. Looks like Norton became a surface officer after a brief period as a naval aviator.

[keith A]

I will spend the day tracking down the VT-10 War diary. I expect I will find the reason Norton returns to surface duty. No Purple Heart among the medals so it may be a non-battle injury.

K

[twocee]

In WWII, training squadron 10 would have been designated VN10, as VT denoted torpedo squadron.

Norton flew as an Avenger pilot at the Battle of Santa Cruz. En route to the target on 26 October 1944 his aircraft was badly damaged in an attack by Zekes and he decided to head back to Enterprise. Unfortunately he could not lower his landing gear and so was forced to ditch. The crew was rescued by DD Preston.

By the end of Air Group 10's first deployment, in May 1943, Norton was VT10's Flight Officer, i.e. 3rd in command, but he appears to have been detached soon afterwards.

[keith A]

Sorry Roland, can't access the article you cite. Can you tell me if it mentions possible reasons for his removal from flight duty?

best regards

Keith

[keith A]

Cheers George, we cross posted