No.1208527, Flight Sergeant (Pilot), John Bedford NORMAN
Aged 23

27 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Killed on Active Service on Sunday, 17th May 1943

Quam celerrime ad astra..."With all speed to the Stars"

John Bedford Norman was born in 1920 (Ely Q3-1920 3B:943), son of Arthur and Marjorie A.NORMAN (née COLLINS). They were living in Haddenham. John was at Soham Grammar School from 1930 to 1939. In the 1939 register the family were at Linder Farm, Aldreth Road, Haddenham. Father Arthur [4-1-1894] was a farmer, mother Marjorie A [22-11-1895]. There are 4 closed records.

See: The Flying Elephants:The History of No.27 Squadron RFC/RAF 1915 to 1969. Bowyer,Chaz London:Macdonald & Co.,1972 p.181:- On the 17th May 1943, 1208527 Sgt (Pilot) John Bedford NORMAN and 1258149 Sgt (Nav./W.Op.) Leonard Raymond PERRISS RAFVR crashed in Beaufighter EL342 three miles short of Agartala runway and were both killed in the explosion as the aircraft fuel tanks ruptured. They were buried in Agartala RAF Cemetery, but moved to Myanmati on 18th November 1946.

A Beaufighter Mk VI

photo from asiawargraves.com

© Commonwealth War Graves Commission

John Norman is buried in Maynamati War Cemetery, Bangladesh, grave 4:A:15
also commemorated on the Haddenham war memorial

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details

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