Norman Culbertson | |
---|---|
Born | Dryden, New York, U.S. | May 9, 1920
Died | June 30, 2006 Geneseo, New York, | (aged 86)
Buried | Lakeview Cemetery, Groveland, NY |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army Air Force, New York Air National Guard |
Years of service | 1939–1980 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Battles/wars | World War II Vietnam War |
Awards | Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal |
Norman Charles Culbertson (May 9, 1920 – June 30, 2006) was a United States Military officer and Silver Star recipient. His B-26 Marauder crew was among the first five American crews to fly missions against Imperial Japan out of Queensland, Australia. Later in life, he completed 276 solo combat missions in Vietnam between 1968 and 1969.
Military Career
editCulbertson enlisted as a Private at Rochester, NY on September 18, 1939, at the age of nineteen. After completing basic training at Langley Field, Virginia, Culbertson
Personal Life
editCulbertson was born on May 5, 1920, in the town of Dryden, New York to Percy and Ruth Culbertson. He was raised in the town of Groveland, New York and graduated from Geneseo High School in 1938. He married his first wife, Catherine Mire, on April 15, 1943 while on leave in Crowley, Louisiana.
After his discharge from the USAAF in January of 1947, Culbertson returned to Mount Morris, New York to find work before attending the Greigsville Agricultural School from September of 1947 to June of 1948. He shortly thereafter began work as a salesman for the American Agricultural Chemical Company, for whom he continued to work until after his retirement from the military in 1980.
After the death of Catherine Culbertson in ____, Culbertson married his second wife, Patricia, on ____.
Norman Culbertson died on June 30, 2006, of testicular cancer at the age of 86. He is buried at Lakeview cemetery in Groveland, New York.[1] He is memorialized on the F-100 Super Sabre Society's Wall of Honor at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.[2]
Military awards
editPersonal Awards
Unit Awards
Dates of Rank
editInsignia | Rank | Component | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Private | United States Army Air Force | September 18, 1939 | |
Flight Officer | United States Army Air Force | August 10, 1943 | |
Second Lieutenant | United States Army Air Force | February 10, 1944 | |
First Lieutenant | United States Army Air Force | August 21, 1945 | |
First Lieutenant | New York Air National Guard | January 16, 1954 | |
Captain | New York Air National Guard | July 1, 1955 | |
Major | New York Air National Guard | July 1, 1962 | |
Lieutenant colonel | New York Air National Guard | July 1, 1969 |