LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Norbert Albert RUBENS
Service No: 408739
Born: St Kilda VIC, 19 November 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 May 1941
Unit: No. 608 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 608 Squadron Hudson aircraft VI711), Central Mediterranean, 12 July 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Norbert Albert and Lilian Vera Rubens, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 12, Column 1, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Hudson VI711 was reported missing from an operational sortie on 12 July 1943. The aircraft failed to return to base at 0130 hours on 13 July 1943. No further news was received of aircraft and crew members who were assumed lost at sea.
The crew members of VI711 were:
Flying Officer John Anthony Belecky (J/11650) (RCAF) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Douglas William Ellis (411303) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Norbert Albert Rubens (408739) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Arthur Hugh Vann (1670515) (RAFVR) (Meteorologist)
Flight Sergeant Kendall Van Waning (411618) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/159/108