Woodbury County

Lt. Norman A. Bennett

 

 

MEN IN SERVICE.

Norman A. Bennett, 23, a son of Dr. and Mrs. A. W. Bennett, 2729 S. Coral Street, is one of five Sioux City young men who has arrived at the University of Missouri in Columbia for a course of army air force instruction prior to appointment as an aviation cadet. Others taking work there include Fred David Johnson, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Johnson, 622 W. Fifth Street, Francis G. Beedle, 22, son of Hulda L. Beedle, apartment 29 in the Park Theater building, Daniel J. Haas, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Haas, 1112 Oak Street, and Douglas C. Griggs, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Truman M. Griggs, 2657 S. Palmetto Street.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, (issue date between 20 Jan 1944--16 Apr 1944)

Officer Missing - Norman A. Bennett

Dispatches received by his wife, Winnifred Bennett, 209 S. Collins Street, reported that Lt. Norman A. Bennett, navigator on a Liberator bomber, is missing in action. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. A.W. Bennett, former Sioux Cityans, now living in Seattle, Washington.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, December 3, 1944 (photo included)

SIOUX CITY FLIER, LISTED MISSING, SENDS MESSAGE
Lt. Norman Bennett Informs Wife Here of Safety

Mrs. Winifred Bennett, 209 S. Collins street, Tuesday afternoon received a radiogram from her husband, Second Lt. Norman Bennett, who officially had been reported missing in action, stating, “Am well. Do not worry. Writing.” No information as to his location was revealed in the message.

On December 2, 1944, Mrs. Bennett was informed by a War Department message that Lt. Bennett, navigator on a Liberator bomber, was missing in action over the Mediterranean area.

Lt. Bennett was awarded the air medal for “meritorious achievement during aerial flights over enemy territory.”  He then was serving with the 15th air force in Italy.  He was graduated from East high school in 1938, and later was employed at the postoffice here.

His parents, Dr. and Mrs. A. W. Bennett, former Sioux Cityans, now reside at Seattle, Wash.  His wife makes her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grover W. Rye, at the Collins street address.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, January 10, 1945

IN UNIFORM.

Lt. Norman A. Bennett, reported missing last November in the Mediterranean area, is on convalescent leave at his home, 209 S. Collins street.  Lt. Bennett has been in an air base hospital at Miami, Fla., for more than two months. He went overseas last August as a navigator on a B-24. His wife is the former Winifred Rye. He is the father of two children, one of whom he saw for the first time when reaching here on his furlough.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 31, 1945

Norman Allen Bennett was born Dec. 30, 1919 to Arch W. and Cora F. Platts Bennett. He died Jan. 31, 1989 and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, IA.

He was awarded a Purple Heart.

Source: ancestry.com