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Norman Ludlow Niece, Jr.

First Lieutenant Norman L. “Bud” Niece, Jr. was a Marine pilot with VMF-212.
He was reported missing in action after a mission to Vunakanau, Rabaul area, on 13 February 1944.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-14888

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

October 7, 1920
at New Kensington, PA

Parents

Norman Ludlow Niece
Lucille K. (Meyers) Niece

Education

New Mexico Military Institute
Ohio State University (1942)

Occupation & Employer

Recent graduate

Service Life

Entered Service

February 16, 1942 (enlisted)
November 25, 1942 (officer)

Home Of Record

510 Fayette Road
Belle Vernon, PA

Next Of Kin

Father, Mr. Norman L. Niece

Military Specialty

Pilot

Primary Unit

VMF-212

Campaigns Served

Northern Solomons

Individual Decorations

Silver Star Medal (citation missing)
Purple Hear

Additional Service Details

Lieutenant Niece is credited with two confirmed kills.

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Lieutenant Norman Niece earned his wings and Marine Corps commission at NATC Pensacola and deployed overseas with VMF-212. He flew two combat tours in the Solomon Islands, and claimed two kills in air-to-air combat.

On 13 February 1944, Bud Niece took off from Piva in F4U-1A #18022 to provide fighter cover for a bombing raid on Vunakanu airfield near Rabaul. The Japanese defenders were on full alert – “the Zeros had the jump on the escorting fighters,” noted VMF-212’s war diary, “coming out of the sun with a two thousand foot altitude advantage. 30-40 fighters intercepted.” Despite this disadvantage, the -212 pilots claimed six kills, two probables, and three damaged. No bombers were lost; the scribe for VMSB-244, a Marine dive bomber squadron that took part in the attack, quoted its pilots as saying “they feel they owe their lives to the fighters, both New Zealanders and Marine F4U pilots, that came to their rescue when our pilots called for help.”

However, Bud Niece failed to return. He was “last seen under attack by a ZEKE at 1055 just east of Vunakanau” according to his own squadron, while the dive bombers noted “One Marine Officer First Lieutenant ‘Bud’ Niece, VMF-212, lost his life because of his bravery.” No additional details were recorded, and Niece was ultimately declared dead on 14 February 1945.

Burial Information or Disposition

None; remains not recovered.

Memorials

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

Norman Niece was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of parents, Norman & Lucille Niece.

Location Of Loss

Lieutenant Niece was last seen in combat over Vunakanau, Papua New Guinea.

Related Profiles

VMF-212 pilots lost on northern Solomons combat tour, December 1943 – March 1944.
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