Norman C. Echols was born on February 21, 1919 in Aberdeen Township, Brown County, South Dakota. His parents were Frank W. Echols and Alida Echols. His father’s occupation was “carpenter”. His mother worked in a factory. He had two sisters and four brothers.

Norman C. Echols married in 1939 and was living in Sioux City, Iowa. He was working as a “bar tender” in a nightclub. The date on his draft card was October 16, 1940.

SSGT Norman C. Echols service number was 17 098 259 and was part of the 307 Bomb Group and the 371 Bomb Squadron. He was an assistant radio operator/gunner. On his last mission he was a crew member of a B-24 (Liberator) bomber which was last contacted by radio on 10 August 1944 in the vicinity of the target while on a combat mission to Yap Island, Caroline Islands. An extensive search was conducted for the missing plane with no results. There were eleven crew members. Nine members were lost at sea and two became prisoners of the Japanese.

The Department of the Army’s official statement of the death of SSGT Norman C. Echols shows that he was killed in action on August 10, 1944 in the Yap Islands located in the Caroline Islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Death occurred in line of duty. SSGT Norman C. Echols was awarded an Air Force medal with 2 oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart.

At the time of SSGT Norman C. Echols had a four year old daughter. He also had four brothers who were in the armed forces.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars(see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial of cemetery.”

“If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at mjbezoldbarbian27@gmail.com.