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.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-14888
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.