LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Norman Francis WHITING
Service No: 434758
Born: Townsville QLD, 26 October 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 January 1943
Unit: No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth aircraft T6246), Derbyshire, 27 November 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Francis David and Theresa Florence Whiting of Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Julia Creek QLD
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 27 November 1944, Tiger Moth T6246 was detailed to carry out a local cross country flight. When over Hilton at a considerable height, the aircraft was seen in an inverted position with pieces hanging from the port wing. The aircraft then got into a spin, and an unusual noise was heard as it dived to earth and the two on board were killed. A Court of Inquiry into the accident stated: “it was unsure whether aerobatics was being performed immediately prior to the accident, therefore it cannot be determined whether the aircraft was intentionally inverted, or whether the accident was due to structural failure or loss of control.”
The crew members of T6246 were:
Sergeant William Roy Courage (R/251499) (RCAF) (Supernumerary)
Flight Sergeant Norman Francis Whiting (434758) (Pilot)
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, 166/43/998