User:Kges1901/Norman L. Paxton

Norman Lester Paxton (June 6, 1917 – November 16, 2010) was a United States Navy Captain who was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in World War II.

Early life
Paxton was born on June 6, 1917, in Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Geology.

World War II
Paxton served with VPB-34, initially as a Lieutenant, flying a PBY Catalina flying boat in the South Pacific. As well as providing rescue capabilities, the squadron flew Black Cat night anti-shipping missions. Paxton became the squadron executive officer by July 1944. On a Black Cat mission on the night of 31 July 1944, he destroyed a large Japanese transport anchored in a cove on the north coast of Mangole Island in the South Molucca Sea under the protection of two escorts by scoring two direct hits and two near misses, despite his Catalina flying at low altitude in moonlight and being the target of heavy anti-aircraft fire. Paxton's Catalina was severely damaged by the fire, but he managed to bring the aircraft back to the squadron's base at Woendi, and for his actions was awarded the Navy Cross.

During a mission on the night of 4–5 August, he was credited with the destruction of a small Japanese tanker with 500 lb bombs and the damaging of two others at the entrance to Ambon Bay. The squadron moved forward to Middleburg Island on 22 August. On the following night, Paxton and squadron commander Lieutenant Commander Vadym Utgoff flew their Catalinas to the Davao Gulf area, making attack runs on multiple ships despite poor visibility. This was the first Catalina flight over the Philippines since 1942. On 30 August, Paxton was credited with the destruction of another Japanese freighter, after which the squadron relocated to Manus Island when its combat tour ended.

Later life
Paxton continued to serve in the Navy after the end of the war before retiring in 1965 with the rank of Captain. His last assignment was an attachment to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. In November of that year Paxton was hired by Trans World Airlines to become manager of plans and programs for its operations at the Kennedy Space Center, where TWA provided base support.