LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Eric Maxwell Sherwin NORRIS
Service No: 408265
Born: Hobart TAS, 25 June 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 July 1941
Unit: No. 459 Squadron, Gambut, Libya
Died: Air Operations (No. 459 Squadron Ventura aircraft FP545), Mediterranean, 14 February 1944, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles Eric and Ruby Eliza Norris, of Castle Forbes Bay, Tasmania, Australia
Roll of Honour: Franklin TAS
Remembered: Column 282, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 106, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On, 14 February 1944, two Ventura aircraft were tasked to escort convoy “Rubble”. The second, FP 545, never reached the convoy but disappeared off the radar about 20 minutes after take-off. No trace was ever found of the aircraft or its crew. The weather at the time was described as “vile” and precluded other Squadron aircraft from participating in the immediate search.
The crew members of FP545 were:
Flying Officer Lindsay Allan Caldow (409078) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Eric Maxwell Sherwin Norris (408265) (Navigator)
Warrant officer I Joseph Noel Leopold Roy (R/108470) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer I Douglas Victor Walker (R/104210) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9816, 145 (No. 459 Squadron Unit History)
Bibliography:
Kane-Maguire L. (Leon) Desert Scorpions: 459 Squadron RAAF 1942-1945, Australian Military History Publications Loftus NSW 2232, 2007
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989