Ancestry Chapter 43
1943 Wings Received, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, In WWII Service
Thomas Norek receives his wings, 1943
I
n 1943 Tom
Norek receives his wings as a pilot for the U.S. Navy, at Corpus Christi, VB-13, U.S.N.R. Tom was born on December 29, 1923, and so he was not yet 20 when he
received his wings. He was a dive-bomber pilot.
Michael Jr. recounted how, when Tom came home on leave, they went out to the neighborhood bars. Tom drank on duty -- a military requirement -- a shot before he went up and a shot on return. In Chicago and under-age, and a bomber pilot -- he drank for free, always, in every bar -- no one would charge for those drinks.
The "VB-13" designation might possibly refer to the type of plane he piloted. It was a 2-man dive bomber called a "Hell Diver." It was flown off the Benjamin Franklin, which was an air-craft carrier called the "Big Ben Flat Top."
So Tom did not merely pilot a dive bomber-- he had to take off and land on a carrier in pitching seas. Seen in old documentary films is the method of landing -- catching a stop-cable while traveling rather fast. If the cable was not caught the plane had to be taken up again quickly. There was traffic behind you. If the plane was damaged, it was pushed overboard. There was traffic behind you.
The Norek men in WWII service – they are hardly old enough to be called anything but boys. George just 18 and Tom still 20. Photos from left, George, George and Tom.
Marilyn born 1943, Chicago
Mike and Vi’s second child, Marilyn, was born in 1943. The family now lives on Mozart Street, across from the grandparents Antonia and Michael.
Marilyn's Godmother is Mike's little sister Dolores.
This is at Vi and Mike's apartment building across the street on Mozart.
Grandmother Antonia holding baby Marilyn, Uncle Tom in uniform, and grandfather Michael Norek.
Presume Mike Jr., the new father, is taking the photo because many of his are off-centered that way.
Judy born
1943, Chicago
Gert and Pete's first child, Judy, was born in 1943.
Ed born 1943
Dorothy and Vern's second child, Edward (Ed), was born in 1943.
1943 Great Grandchildren births: three
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