NH World War II Marine laid to rest 80 years after plane shot down
By Jackson Stoever
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MANCHESTER, N.H. (WMUR) — Eighty years after his plane was shot down during World War II, a New Hampshire Marine was laid to rest Tuesday.
Edgar Norcross was part of a three-man team that took a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber on a mission in the South Pacific on March 16, 1945. After a bombing run, they were shot down over an island controlled by Japan.
His remains were buried next to the wreckage.
Eighty years later, the Manchester native was finally laid to rest at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery. Many were in attendance, including veterans and relatives, who previously could cherish only what they remembered of him.
“I will come away from here absolutely with a big, warm heart because I have spoken to so many strangers who are all just saying it was their honor to attend,” said Cindy Putnam, Norcross’ cousin. “That’s a great feeling to hear that from strangers. I’m just thrilled that so many showed up.”
Patrick Ranfranz, founder of the Missing Aircrew Project, helped bring Norcross home.
“I think the scary thing is we all fear being a no one or being placed in an unknown grave or never being found again,” he said. “There’s a sense of this immense loss. I grew up hearing the stories about my uncle being lost. My family never knew what happened to him, and I found the documents to figure out where he was lost and how. It’s that closure that I think we all strive for.”
He said there are many World War II service members who are still unaccounted for.
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