Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 2 Line: 13

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Norman S. McMorrow, Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 19, 1922. He graduated from Gonzaga College High School on June 21, 1939; was attending George Washington University when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He immediately applied for Aviation Cadet training, was accepted and was sworn-in as Private Air Corps unassigned on Apr. 14, 1942, awaiting call up for Aviation Cadet classification and training at Nashville, TN on Aug. 28, 1942.
He was classified Pilot and began Pre-flight School Dec. 7, 1942, Santa Anna, CA; Primary training Ryan School, Hemet, CA; Basic, Minter Field, Bakersfield, CA; and graduated from Williams Field, Chandler, AZ, Class 43-I, as a Two Engine Fighter Pilot (P-38).
His first assignment was with the 372nd Fighter Sdn., 360th Fighter Gp., Salinas, CA for 1st phase P-38 operational training. Next was 331st F.S., 329th F.G. at Ellensburg, WA and Ontario, CA for 2nd and 3rd phase P-38 operational training. He was transferred to 29th Photo Recon. Sdn., 2nd Photo Gp., Will Rogers Field, OK for Photo Recon Pilot training Jan. 19, 1944 to June 2, 1944.
He arrived at Borgo, Corsica on July 26, 1944, for his combat assignment with the 23rd Photo Recon. Sdn., 3rd Photo Gp. He completed 51 missions in F-5E aircraft, flying from bases at Borgo, Corsica; Le Luc and Valence, France; Malignano and Florence/Peretola, Italy. He was Assistant Aircraft Engineering Officer and Squadron Test Pilot. Promoted to Captain and Leader of “A” Flight.
Decorations included: Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters; Presidential Unit Citation: MTO Aug, 1944, for Southern France Campaign; Good Conduct Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 7 Stars; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal (Germany); National Defense Service Medal
The 23rd PRS was a composite of British, French (33rd PRS) and America through the Southern France Campaign and Invasion. The 23rd PRS was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star: Aug. 15, 1943 to October 15, 1944. The 23rd PRS completed 2,000 combat missions during WWII with only the loss of two pilots’ lives due to enemy action. McMorrow departed for home Apr. 15, 1945.
He served with the U.S. Air Force until Dec. 24, 1952, attaining the rank of Major. He is charter member #97 in the P-38 National Association; member of the Mediterranean Allied Photo Recon Wing (Association), Member of the 23 Photo Recon Squadron (Association) and Distinguished Flying Cross society. He is now retired and lives in North Springfield, Virginia.