Norman L. Paxton

Norman L. Paxton
Born	(1917-06-06)June 6, 1917 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	November 16, 2010(2010-11-16) (aged 93) Merritt Island, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Service years	1939–c. 1960s
Rank	Captain
Unit	Patrol Bombing Squadron 34 (VPB-34)
Commands	Executive Officer, VPB-34 (1944–45)
Conflicts	Pacific War
Awards	Navy Cross Distinguished Flying Cross (2 or more awards)
Spouse	Dorothy Rhea Kenniston (m. December 20, 1941)
Children	4

Norman Lester Paxton (June 6, 1917 – November 16, 2010) was a United States Navy aviator who flew PBY-5 Catalina flying boats with Patrol Squadron 34 (later Patrol Bombing Squadron 34, VPB-34), the "Black Cats", during the Pacific theater of World War II, where he served as the squadron's executive officer. He was awarded the Navy Cross for a night attack on a Japanese freighter-transport in the South Molucca Sea on July 31, 1944, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for sustained operations over the Bismarck Sea in January and February 1944, with at least one additional award of the DFC for subsequent action. He retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain.

Early life and education

Paxton was born on June 6, 1917, in Los Angeles, California. His older brother Hugh C. Paxton, a holder of a doctoral degree, was based in New York City by 1941. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1939.

In July 1939, Paxton was named to the fifth and final 1939 class of cadets selected for Naval Aviation training at the Long Beach Naval Reserve Aviation Base in California. The class began primary flight training there on September 15, 1939, under the base's commanding officer, Commander Thomas A. Gray Jr. Paxton was formally appointed a Naval Aviation Cadet by the Secretary of the Navy on December 25, 1939, with the oath of office administered by Commander Gray.

World War II service

Paxton entered flight training following his December 1939 cadet appointment. He completed training and was designated a naval aviator by December 1941, when he held the rank of Ensign. By October 1944 he had been promoted to Lieutenant and was serving in Patrol Squadron 34 (VP-34), which was redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 34 (VPB-34) on October 1, 1944. By May 1945 he had been promoted to Lieutenant Commander and was serving as the squadron's executive officer under commanding officer Lt. Cmdr. Vadym V. Utgoff.

The squadron operated PBY-5 Catalinas painted matte black in the "Black Cat" low-altitude night-attack role against Japanese shipping, flying from forward bases at Port Moresby, Samarai Island, Langemak Bay, and Mios Woendi. Over the course of its Pacific deployment, VPB-34 was credited with sinking or damaging 29 enemy ships — including six warships — and with rescuing 281 allied military personnel; for these operations the squadron received the Presidential Unit Citation.

Distinguished Flying Cross

Paxton received the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Catalina over the Bismarck Sea on 5 and 16 January 1944 and on 4 February 1944".

Navy Cross action, July 31, 1944

On the night of July 31, 1944, operating from Mios Woendi after the squadron's July 16, 1944, redeployment from Samarai, Paxton attacked a Japanese freighter-transport anchored under escort in the South Molucca Sea. A contemporary news account in the Jacksonville Journal reported that he dropped four bombs on the target and its two destroyer escorts; the transport was estimated as "probably sunk", and his Catalina returned to base despite damage from anti-aircraft fire. His Navy Cross citation reads in part:

Lieutenant Paxton skillfully located a large enemy freighter-transport, protected by two escorts, at anchor in a small harbor, and attacked in bright moonlight although he knew the enemy force had been alerted and was in an advantageous tactical position to defend itself. Gliding to a low altitude in the face of an intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire which severely damaged his aircraft, he scored two direct hits and two near misses on the merchant vessel, resulting in its destruction, and then safely brought his plane back to base despite its damaged condition.

The Hall of Valor database header gives the action date as "July 31, 1945", which is a typographical error; the citation text and the VPB-34 operational record place the action on July 31, 1944.

Postwar career

After the war Paxton remained in the Navy. In August 1946 he was serving as ground training officer on the staff of Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison, Chief of Naval Air Advanced Training, at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. During 1945 and 1946 he spoke to several Jacksonville civic groups, including the Civitan Club and the Exchange Club, describing his squadron's Pacific operations and discussing the psychology of combat fatigue and fear in night-flying aircrews.

He ultimately retired with the rank of Captain. By the time of his death he was living in Merritt Island, Florida, on Florida's Space Coast.

Personal life and death

Paxton, then an Ensign, married Dorothy Rhea Kenniston (born February 14, 1916, in Jacksonville, Florida) on December 20, 1941, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Jacksonville; the Rev. Malcolm Lockhart officiated, and Paxton's brother Dr. Hugh C. Paxton served as best man. Dorothy, a schoolteacher, was the daughter of the late Arthur A. Kenniston and his widow. The couple had four children, three sons and a daughter.

Paxton died on November 16, 2010, in Merritt Island, Florida, at the age of 93; his wife had predeceased him. He was survived by his four children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cocoa, Florida, on November 20, 2010.

Awards and decorations

	Navy Cross
	Distinguished Flying Cross

External links

• Norman L. Paxton at the Hall of Valor, Military Times