Lunney, Vernal Norwood
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Vernal Norwood |
Surname | Lunney |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Robert Lunney and Helena Elizabeth Mae Lunney (née West), of Banning Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR912 |
Markings | VR-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 251. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 201 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/92324 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 419 (Moose) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Lunney Lake, Manitoba; 30km west of Tadoule Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Outside Former St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Memorial Tablet on Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to Nos 419, 420 and 428 Sqns RCAF who flew from RAF Middleton St George during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
Vernal was born on 3 December 1923 at Banning Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father was born in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland and he worked as a City Foreman and his mother was born in London, England. He had two brothers, Garnet Robert and Dennis Albert. Garnet was a photographer. The schools he attended between 1930 and 1938 were both Greenway and General Wolfe , followed by Gordon Bell school between 1939-1941. He took part in most sports. Between 1937 -1938 he was working as a carrier for the Tribune as well as an roller skating instructor for the Civic Auditorium for 3 years between 1937-1940. He was a trucker for Eatons for one year, 1941-1942 before returning to the Civic Auditorium Roller Rink as an instructor during 1942. He then enlisted on 23 June 1942. |
After training, Vernal was posted to the U.K. and he embarked from Halifax on 30 June 1943 arriving at 3PRC on 8 July 1943. He was then at 6(0) AFU 27 July 1943, 24 OTU on 24 August 1943, 419 Sqn 6 January 1944, 61 RCAF Base 27 February 1944. and back at 419 Squadron on 16 March 1944. Sadly, Vernal lost his life shortly afterwards on 29 March 1944 at the age of twenty. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1823/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1823/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-03-1944 |
End Date | 30-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (35% moon) |
Operation | Vaires- to bomb railway yards at Paris-Vaires |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace |