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Lt. Duane Thorin
Duane Thorin (October 26, 1919 - October 24, 2002) was born in the Chambers, Nebraska area to a Swiss immigrant family. He joined the Navy in 1939 and earned his wings in 1943 as a flying C.P.O. Lt...view moreDuane Thorin (October 26, 1919 - October 24, 2002) was born in the Chambers, Nebraska area to a Swiss immigrant family. He joined the Navy in 1939 and earned his wings in 1943 as a flying C.P.O. Lt. Thorin was proficient in every aircraft that the Navy flew in the Pacific Fleet during World War II. He was also a test pilot and a carrier-qualified pilot. In 1949, he was designated helicopter pilot #216. With his helicopter he made more than 130 rescues in the Korean theater.
He reported aboard the USS Rochester November 23, 1951. He was shot down and captured near Wonsan on February 7, 1952 and interred by the Chinese in Camp Annex #2 on the Yalu River. He was released in the summer of 1953. His next assignment was Washington, DC where he spent the remainder of his Naval career with the National Security Agency.
He passed away in 2002, aged 82.view less