Norman Carl Appold (1917 - 2004)

Born 3 Apr 1917 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Died 17 Mar 2004 at age 86 in Niceville, Okaloosa, Florida, United States

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Biography

Norman Appold was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States).

Norman Appold was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Norman Appold was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Norman Appold was awarded the Air Medal.

Lt. Colonel Norman Appold served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 12 Jul 1941
Unit(s): 514th Bombardment Squadron, 376th Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended:

Norman was born 3 April 1917 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the son of Christian C. Appold and Bertha Eichbauer.

Norman was the pilot of the B-24 Liberator bomber, G.I. Ginnie, #42-40657, participating in Operation Tidal Wave the low-level attack on the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 August 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for the mission.

He married Marion Dorothy Willis on 2 February 1946 in Detroit, Michigan.^[1]

He passed away 17 March 2004 in Florida.^[2]

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #8538537 (accessed 13 November 2023)
  Memorial page for COL Norman Carl Appold (3 Apr 1917-17 Mar 2004), citing Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA (plot: Section 49A, Site 4069); Maintained by Bishop (contributor 46599816).

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) Norman Carl Appold, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 514th Bombardment Squadron, 376th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Major Appold acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged he continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Major Appold, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast in the cockpit to unload his bombs on the enemy targets, and then returned to his home base without the loss of a single man. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Major Appold on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952"
   Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Film: 336; Film Title: 82 Wayne 344650-347949; Film Description: Wayne (Dates TBD)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9093 #1529371 (accessed 14 November 2023)
   Normand Appold (23) marriage to Marion Dorothy Willis on 2 Feb 1946 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA.
2. ↑ Death: "United States Social Security Death Index"
   citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing)
   FamilySearch Record: JGZG-QQQ (accessed 22 November 2023)
   Norman C Appold death 17 Mar 2004 (born 03 Apr 1917) residing in Okaloosa, Florida.
3. ↑ The Hall of Valor Project - Norman Carl Appold

• 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
  citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 73; Digital film/folder number: 004951139; FHL microfilm: 2340718; Image number: 1017; Sheet number: 6; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03860-8
  FamilySearch Record: XQY6-S77 (accessed 14 November 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR4P-SBF
  Norman C Appold (13), single son, in household of Carl C Appold (42) in Oscoda, Oscoda Township, Iosco, Michigan, United States. Born in Michigan.
• 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 65; Digital film/folder number: 005461814; Image number: 94; Sheet number: 4; Sheet letter: B
  FamilySearch Record: KH9J-X9F (accessed 14 November 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89M1-GF2H
  Norman Appold (23), single son, in household of Carl Appold (52) in Detroit Ward 14, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States. Born in Michigan.
• Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Michigan, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 28
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #267894367 (accessed 14 November 2023)
  Hair Color: Brown; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Weight: 144; Name: Norman Carl Appold;
  Household Members (Name) Relationship:
  Norman Carl Appold Self (Head)
  Carl C Appold Father; Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan, USA; Residence Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA; Complexion: Light; Height: 5 10; Next of Kin: Carl C Appold; Registration Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA; Gender: Male; Eye Color: Blue; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Employer: University of Michigan Graduate Student; Race: White; Birth Date: 3 Apr 1917; Age: 23.
• Military: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946"
  citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland
  FamilySearch Record: K8G7-NRT (accessed 14 November 2023)
  Military Service Place: Detroit, Michigan, United States; Reel Box Card: 02062.63; Enlistment Year: 1941; Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men); Name: Norman C Appold; Civil Occupation Orig: 003; Enlistment Year Orig: 41; Serial Number: 16014804; Education Orig: 8; Civil Occupation: Architects; Source: Civil Life; Race: White; Branch Code Orig: 20; Marital Status: Single, without dependents; Source Orig: 0; Military Service Date: 12 Jul 1941; Birth Place: MICHIGAN; Grade Code Orig: 9; Major Force Of Assign: 0; Enlistment Place Orig: 6228; Branch Alpha Orig: AC; Enlistment Day: 12; Birth Date: 1917; Component Orig: 1; Enlistment Term Orig: 0; Education: 4 years of college; Enlistment Place: DETROIT MICHIGAN; Grade Code: Aviation Cadet; Enlistment Month: Jul; Arc Identifier: 1263923; Enlistment Month Orig: 07; Event Type: Military Service; Grade Alpha Orig: F C; Branch Code: Air Corps; Military Occupation: 7014.
• 19 Youths Start Air Training: "Newspapers.com"
  Detroit Evening Times (Detroit, Michigan) Sun, Jul 13, 1941, page 8
  Newspapers Clip: 135182684 (accessed 14 November 2023)
• Service Parade: "Newspapers.com"
  Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Sun, Feb 22, 1942, page 6
  Newspapers Clip: 135183127 (accessed 14 November 2023)
• West, Of Hancock , Given Air Medal: "Newspapers.com"
  The Escanaba Daily Press (Escanaba, Michigan) Thu, Jan 14, 1943, page 2
  Newspapers Clip: 135183368 (accessed 14 November 2023)
• OFFICER FROM MASON IS AWARDED D. F. C.: "Newspapers.com"
  Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thu, Sep 2, 1943, page 24
  Newspapers Clip: 135183487 (accessed 14 November 2023)
• Sees Lack of Oil Defeating Nazis: "Newspapers.com"
  Detroit Evening Times (Detroit, Michigan) Sat, Sep 23, 1944, page 19
  Newspapers Clip: 135182436 (accessed 14 November 2023)
• 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
  citing Page: 25; Line: 2; Digital film/folder number: 108872787; Image number: 26
  FamilySearch Record: 6XLP-8FXC (accessed 14 November 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QHN-GQHW-7HLM
  Norman C Appold (33), married, Assistant Of Chemical Engineer, head of household in Arlington, Virginia, United States. Born in Michigan.