Harlan Norem Oral History

Authors

St. Cloud State University

Document Type

Interview

Publication Date

10-27-1990

Abstract

Biographical Information:

Harlan Norem was born on April 16, 1924 in Los Angeles California, to Nels and Olga Norem. Norem served in the Army Air Corps from January 1943 to September 1945. Norem was stationed in Foggia, Italy, with the 772^nd Squadron of the Fifteenth Air Force. After World War II, he finished his education at Augustana College and Luther Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota. He worked as an artist, theologian, writer, teacher and pastor. Norem married Harriet Vogler on June 12, 1949 and they had four children – Lois, Mark, Ruth, and Susan. Norem died on October 3, 2014.

Transcript Summary:

In an interview conducted on October 27, 1990, Harlan Norem described his experience in the Army Air Corps during the World War II. Norem recalled basic training, flight training, radio school, and gunnery school. After training, Norem detailed his trip across the Atlantic to North Africa, Naples, Italy, and eventually his base Foggia Italy. He described his first missions, as well as his roles on the bomber. Norem detailed an incident with a bomb not properly being released, then when they almost had a midair collision with another bomber in the group. Norem described an incident where they were ambushed by German fighters. Norem recalled a mission where one of the engines caught fire on the bomber. Norem touched up what the base life was like, interacting with civilians, and his relationship with his flight crew. Norem ended the interview by describing what he did immediately after World War II and returning to Foggia for a reunion.

Interview by Jeff Jacobson

Comments

Image ID: 14279

See additional files below for full transcript.

Recommended Citation

St. Cloud State University, "Harlan Norem Oral History" (1990). World War II Veterans. 35.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/worldwar_oh/35