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Tail Gunner Norris holds a copy of a photo that shows his crew standing by the original “The Little King.” In that photo (see inset), Norris is the second from the right. (Image Credit: Museum of Aviation)At the Museum of Aviation near Warner Robins, Georgia, a recent visitor turned out to have quite a connection to the North American B-25 Mitchell bomber on display. He was its tail gunner. Well, not precisely. Norris Olson flew 70 combat missions as a tail gunner, some on the B-25 Mitchell bomber nicknamed “The Little King” (serial number 43-27676) during World War II. The museum’s B-25, serial number 44-86872, is marked to appear as “The Little King.” So while the plane is indeed more or less the spitting image of Olsen’s craft, initials he might have scratched in the interior are not likely to have been reproduced.
Norris near the tail gunner’s position of the B-25. The inset photo shows Norris as an 18-year-old gunner during WWII. (Image Credit: Museum of Aviation)Norris holds a piece of shrapnel that punched through the fuselage and landed next to his leg during a mission. (Image Credit: Museum of Aviation) Norris was afforded the full VIP treatment by the museum’s staff, who allowed the WWII veteran unfettered access to the plane, in rapt attention as he unfolded stories of his experiences during the war on “this” plane. Thanks to the photographs Olsen had brought, the compare and contrast session was interesting, and the minor differences between this and the original “Little King” were brought to light.
Olsen, still relatively spry after all these years even popped up through the hatch in the underbelly of the Mitchell’s rear fuselage that was the entry point to get to the tail gunner’s position as the bomb compartment separated the tail from the rest of the craft.
Olsen even brought along another souvenir from one of his 70 combat missions, a jagged bit of a bomb fragment that came through the fuselage and landed right next to him while he was in his position in the tail of a Mitchell. The experience left enough of an impression on him for him to sill have it nearly 70 years later.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
