Background
Norton was born March 12, 1921 in San Bernardino, California.
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Leland Norton
Edit ProfileEducation
Norton attended Elliott Elementary School, Arrowview Junior High School, and San Bernardino High School. Norton then attended San Bernardino Valley College.
Career
In the fall of 1941, Norton dropped out of college and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. In March 1942, Norton transferred to the United States Army Air Force. He was sent first to Maine, and then to Greenland, where he participated in rescue work.
He applied for combat, and was trained during the summer of 1943.
By 1944, Norton was Deputy Commander of the 640th Bombardment Squadron in the United Kingdom. On May 27, 1944, while attacking a German marshaling yard on his 16th combat mission, Norton"s A-20 Havoc bomber was struck by antiaircraft fire.
Norton ordered his crew to bail out of the aircraft, but he stayed at the controls to ensure their safe evacuation. Norton died during the plane crash near Amiens, France.
According to one source, Norton did parachute out of the bomber, but was killed by the exploding bombs when the plane crashed.
In 1950, San Bernardino Air Force Base was renamed Norton Air Force Base in Norton"s honor. His portrait hung in the Officers" Club until the base closure in 1994. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernardino, California / PLOT: Lawn K- 709-213
Stater Brothers, a supermarket company in Southern California, presents the Leland F. Norton award each year to a local resident in honor of Norton.
In 2011, the San Bernardino City United School District broke ground on Norton Elementary School.
Achievements
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Foreign his heroic actions, Norton was posthoumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Distinguished Flying Cross), the highest Army Air Force Award, for "self sacrificing regard for the safety of his crew and fellow men bringing great distinction on himself and the Army Air Forces." Norton was also awarded a Purple Heart.
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Born
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Died
March 27, 1944 (aged 23) -
Nationality
United States
Awards
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Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Flying Cross; Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.