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West, Norman Edward

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Personal Information

Rank P/O
Forename(s) Norman Edward
Surname West
Gender M
Age 25
Date of Death 15-01-1944
Next of Kin Son of Albert John and Rosa Charlotte West, of Plymouth. Husband of Betty Audrey West, of Plymouth.
WEST NE

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Avro Lancaster III
Serial Number JB141
Markings UM-N2 Bei mir bist du schön'.

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country Germany
Burial/Memorial Place Hanover War Cemetery
Grave Reference 6. F. 12.
Epitaph GOD'S GREATEST GIFT, REMEMBRANCE. BET, MAM, DAD AND FAMILY

IBCC Memorial Information

Phase 1
Panel Number 114

Enlistment Information

Service Number 170722
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 1
Squadron 626
Squadron Motto To strive and not to yeild
Trade Pilot
Country of Origin United Kingdom

Other Memorials

Location Main Entrance, Wickenby Airfield, Lincolnshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Memorial Stone, Metal Scupture, Info Board
Memorial Text This memorial commemorates the 1080 aircrew killed on operations with Nos (12B) and 626 squadrons whilst based at Royal Air Force Wickenby 1942-1945, the design and building of the memorial in 1981 was funded by subscription from members of the Wickenby R
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Miscellaneous Information

A poem, penned by Jean Sweet (1926-2018), was written to present at a friend's 18th birthday party in the expectation that the crew of JB141 would themselves be at the party. Tragically they were killed between her writing it and the party taking place, making the poem all the more poignant. (By way of interpretation, Dinger is Arthur Bell, Corney is Cyril Wheatstone, Joe is John Joseph Smith and Baron is George Upfold- for reasons unknown. The first line of the second verse should read 'Bei mir bist du schön' - a contemporary song popularised by the Andrew Sisters, although originally penned in Yiddish which the title in the poem perhaps alludes to as it is closer to the Yiddish spelling). "In tribute to a Gallant crew from a grateful British subject" Johnny and Norman, the Baron and Joe, Corney and Dinger and George Are out in a bomber on every Big Show Their way through the flak they will Forge Bei mir bist du shane (sic) Is the Lancaster's name It means what we think - you're the tops Norm will pilot you through John will aim his bombs true Until all this monstrosity stops If they're hit by the flak, There is no turning back They'll go on till the job has been done And with all guns ablaze They'll help put out that maze Of searchlights with the Baron's rear gun When wounded and torn, Looking slightly forlorn The bomber limps back with its crew George will care for and tend Every fresh battle scar Till once more she can fly in the blue Then with Dinger, Joe, Corney completing the crew The cream of our land is displayed We humble ourselves when we think of the courage And sacrifices you have made Well we're trying to help you by staying at home Looking after the things that you love And we'll still be waiting when you cease to roam In those treacherous skies high above.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2145/6
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2145/5

Fellow Servicemen

Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.

Bell A (Sgt)
Powell G E (Sgt)
Smith J J (Sgt)
Stanley J F (F/S)
Upfold G (Sgt)
Wheatstone C F (Sgt)

Last Operation Information

Start Date 14-01-1944
End Date 15-01-1944
Takeoff Station Wickenby
Day/Night Raid Night (82% moon)
Operation Braunschweig
Reason for Loss Crashed near Barssun, south of Bremen

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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.