Norton, Francis Dunsford
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Francis Dunsford |
Surname | Norton |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 18-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frederick and Miriam Norton. Husband of Audrey Doreen Norton. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | ED661 |
Markings | QR-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 2. Z. 15-19. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 79 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 127794 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 61 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Miscellaneous Information
Some publications list this aircraft as having call sign QR-J but since W4766 was also -J and was lost on the same night, this is not possible. Hedley Madgett's logbook ( https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/18820?fbclid=IwAR2Nf-2fkoQbHbsUmhUn_FSBt-y803Q_4PujVMuOScyFW0DERQlu0MC2HJU ) suggests in its final entry, filled out by the 61 Sqn A-Flight Commander, that the aircraft was -R . This does not create any overlap with other instances of -R and is therefore presumed to be correct, although it must also be noted that 61 Squadron ORBs do not record callsigns so they cannot be used for corroboration. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/578/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/578/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 17-08-1943 |
End Date | 18-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Syerston |
Day/Night Raid | Night (93% moon) |
Operation | Peenemunde (Operation Hydra, part of Operation Crossbow - Destruction of the V2) |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Greifswald |