Caffery, Norman
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Norman |
Surname | Caffery |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Edward Caffery and Margaret Hannah Caffery (née Coulthard) of Pelgate, Chester-le-Street. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | HX351 |
Markings | NP-S |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Kimblesworth (Ss. Philip and St. James) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Row 1. Grave 10. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 140 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 169502 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 158 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Lawrence Church, Atwick, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Scroll |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Halifax HX351 which crashed 7 minutes after take off from RAF Lissett due to an emergency |
Location | Adjacent to former airfield, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Metal Sculpture, Wind Turbines & Info Board |
Memorial Text | 12 wind turbines named after Halifax Bombers of 158 Sqn and groundcrew who were killed on 2nd July 1943 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 158 Sqn, RAF Lissett 28th February 1943 - 17th August 1946 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window in memory of 158 Sqn RAF |
Miscellaneous Information
In 1994 a memorial plaque at the crash site was rediscovered by Georgina Wood, a schoolgirl who placed flowers at the site as her personal tribute. Since then the plaque has been moved (by her father) to the edge of the field to a more prominent position and a service of rededication has been held by the village vicar. |
Born July - September 1922 in Chester-le-Street, Durham. |
His father was a colliery worker, |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1049/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1049/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 19-02-1944 |
End Date | 20-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Lissett |
Day/Night Raid | Night (22% moon) |
Operation | Leipzig. 823 aircraft, 78 losses (9.5%). Excluding early returners, the Halifax loss rate was 14.9%. As a result, Halifax Mks II and V were permanently withdrawn from service over Germany. The Kiel mine laying diversion was successful in drawing off fighters, but the German controllers only sent half of the available aircraft. As soon as the bomber stream crossed the Dutch coast they were confronted by the remaining half of the fighters and, moreover, the ones sent to Kiel were returned to join the fray. As a consequence, the fighters steadily picked off bombers all the way to this distant target. The winds were strongly than had been predicted and many bombers arrived early and had to orbit the target awaiting the Pathfinders, further increasing the likelihood of being picked off, either by flak or fighters. Leipzig was cloud covered and sky-marking had to be used. Early bombing appeared to be concentrated but later bombing less so. There was no local report nor a reconnaissance flight the following day. An American raid the following day then made it impossible to judge the effectiveness of the raid. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed into a field near Atwick, NNW of Hornsea, Yorkshire |