Norbert C. Ruff, of Bloomer, Wis., died Nov. 28, following a stroke. He was 88.
Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. During the war he was stationed in the South Pacific and flew a P-38 with the 80th Pursuit Group.
After the war Ruff left the military and became a businessman. He also penned a book about his wartime adventures, “Ruff Stuff, A World War II Pilot’s Story.”
At AirVenture 2007 Ruff was honored when a newly restored P-38 was named “Ruff Stuff,” for the airplane he flew in the war. As the nose art was ceremoniously applied, Ruff got a chance to visit with Oshkosh attendees, sharing his stories about the war and flying the P-38.