Norman Miles Carnie was born on January 11, 1919, in Freeport, Nassau County, New York. He was the son of John M. Carnie and Alice Southard Carnie. He was initially married to Ethel Olivia Sonneborn Carnie and later remarried to Eleanor Webb Carnie. He served in the 335th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17G #42-31561 nicknamed "Just Elmer's Tune," during World War II.

On February 24, 1944, during its mission targeting Rostock, Germany, "Just Elmer's Tune" sustained significant damage from anti-aircraft flak, which struck engine number one and damaged the stabilizer. Unable to maintain formation, the aircraft fell behind and was further attacked by enemy fighters. The crew was forced to crash-land near Øster Højst, south of Løgumkloster, Denmark. Of the ten crew members, two were killed in action and the remaining eight crew members survived and were taken as prisoners of war.

TSgt Carnie was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He died of complications of Alzheimer's disease on August 26, 2003, and is now buried in the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida, USA.

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de