Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant (Observer) L. D. Norman, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Whitley was shot down by a night-fighter during an operational sortie on Gelsenkirchen, on 9-10 January 1941

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal tickets, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘P. W .Norman, Esq., 127 Warren Road, Banstead, Surrey’, extremely fine (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties.

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Lawrence Dudley Norman served during the Second World War as an Observer with 78 Squadron, and was killed in action on his first operational sortie when Whitley T4203, piloted by Sergeant C. A. Smith, was shot down by a German night-fighter under the command of Oblt. Reinhold Eckardt of 11/NJG1 - 6th Staffel, whilst on a sortie to attack the synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen, on 9-10 January 1941. Gelsenkirchen was throughout the War a major target of Bomber Command, and as a result was heavily defended.

At the time of this victory Eckardt was already a famed fighter ace, including 2 Spitfires during the Battle of Britain. He would go on to claim 22 victories in the next two years before eventually being shot down and killed in action when his parachute caught on the tail of his aircraft.

Norman’s Whitley crashed into ice-encrusted flood water at around 11:18 p.m. between Millingen and Kerkerdam. in Gelderland, Holland. All the crew were killed. Norman’s body was recovered and he is buried alongside his crew in Mook War Cemetery, Holland. His medals were sent to his father, Percy Wilfrid Norman.

Sold with copied research.