Norton Air Force Base
Museum
NAFBM NEWS
An Amazing Find
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES!
A local photographer was looking for some military props for a picture. She went to a yard sale in Riverside with her friend. They discovered a footlocker with the name 1ST LT. LELAND F. NORTON and Service # 0792301. She immediately knew of its importance and donated it to the museum. We checked the service number, and it is his. On the footlocker is printed: EFFECTS. So, we have Norton’s personal footlocker that was returned to his family. We understand the family has moved away from San Bernardino. We are extremely excited to have Norton’s personal footlocker on display at the NAFB Museum.
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1st Lt. Leland F. Norton was a heroic pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Born on March 12, 1921, in San Bernardino, California, he tragically lost his life on May 27, 1944, during a bombing mission in France. Norton is remembered for his bravery and dedication, and his legacy lives on through various memorials, including Norton Air Base and the Leland F. Norton Elementary School in his hometown. His actions during the war earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart. The discovery of his footlocker is a poignant reminder of his sacrifice and the enduring impact he has had on his community and country.
Ken Nelson Joins the NAFBM Team
The Norton Air Force Base Museum has some exciting news to share! AC Ken Nelson has stepped up as our new docent. Ken served with the 15th from 1976 to 1980, and he is eager to share his knowledge and experience with the public.
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We are also thrilled to announce that we will be acquiring a flight simulator, and Ken will be our flight simulator instructor. This will give visitors a unique opportunity to experience flight simulations that are as close to the real thing.
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We are grateful to Ken for volunteering his time and expertise, and we look forward to offering this new experience to our visitors soon.
Norton AFBM In The News
We are thrilled to announce that KCAL News featured a story on the Norton Air Force Base Museum on November 8th, 2024! Reporter Sheeba Turk, learned more about the museum's rich history and incredible exhibits, which showcase its legacy. The segment featuring Norton AFB Museum starts at the 11:34 time stamp. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the stories of the brave men and women who served our nation at Norton AFB.
In The News
Taking a look back, the Norton Air Force Base Museum participated in the Redlands Veterans Day Parade held on November 11, 2022. We had a great turnout and all of our vehicles were running.
The Redlands Hometown Heroes Foundation and the city of Redlands presented the annual Veterans Day Parade, which draws several thousand people each year. Following the parade, veterans, their families and the community gathered at Jennie Davis Park for a celebration honoring members of the military for their service.
NAFB Museum is on display
Breeze Airlines now has daily flights out of the San Bernardino International Airport to San Francisco. To help draw attention to the Norton Museum, the Airport Authority asked the Museum staff to put a display in the terminal. The display is working as the museum has welcomed interested passengers to the museum.
