Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

The above did well as a night fighter pilot in 96 Sqn in 1944 but he started flying Defiants with 409 Sqn. He was forced to land his Defiant with a dead gunner some time in 1941 possibly early 1942 following a combat and ended upside down over a sunken road. However, his logbook does not show this-can any 409 Sqn specialists help?

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Hi,
Not a 409 Squadron "expert" but have Air Britain book "The Defiant File" by Alec Brew.

409 Sqdn code "KP"

There is note on page 119 that may be of use.

Watson F/Lt. F.S. RCAF 409 Sqn 11.10.41.

Page 99
AA281
c/n 651
deld to 24 MU 2.6.41; 409 Sqn 9.7.41; Crashed at Wolverton, Norfolk after pilot lost control, 11.10.41; Flt.Lt. F.S.Watson RCAF killed; Flt Sgt. McKinnon baled out; SOC 16.10.41.

Page 39
No 409 Nighthawk Squadron forming at Digby on 17th June with thirteen aircraft arriving all at once on the 9th July.
and
No 409 flew its first operation on 3rd August and was declaired fully operational on 20th but the following month began converting to Beaufighters.

Hope this is a help.

Alex

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Hello Chris,

Well I expect that you have checked the CWGC site and also 409 Sqdn via the "hut-six" site too.
But in case you have not as yet done so -

Here are some 409 Sqdn losses.
1941

25/11/41 AC2 Albert Ronald Gibbons.RAF
02/09/41 P/O Arthur Noel Slater.RAF
02/09/41 W/Cdr Norman Bredsgaard Petersen RCAF

1942
19/01/42 Sgt. Louis Henry Svendsen RAF
19/01/42 F/Sgt. Alexander Ian Murray RCAF
28/02/42 P/O. Robert McConnell Murchie RCAF
05/03/42 A.C.1. R.J.A.G.St.Hilaire RCAF
27/03/42 P/O. P. M. Sweet RCAF
27/03/42 S/Ldr. B. A. Hanbury RCAF
27/03/42 F/Sgt. J. W. Dickson RCAF
08/08/42 F/Sgt. A. J. Matches RCAF
08/08/42 P/O. B. A. Thornley RCAF
19/09/42 F/O. W. D. Gibson RCAF
05/12/42 Sgt. Herbert Pendleton RAF
05/12/42 F/O. R.K. E. Warner RCAF
31/12/42 W/O. B. H. Barber RCAF
31/12/42 F/O. H. Brooks RCAF
31/12/42 W/O. H. Hare RCAF
31/12/42 F/O. W. B. Mosley RCAF

And I also found T3934 14/08/41 P/O. E. Fenwick injured, Sgt. Dickson unhurt.
a/c hit trees on aproach Coleby Grange.

Alex

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Alex: Thanks but nothing seems to match with Head

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Hi Chris,

Could it be under 96 Sqdn as the 409 had them for so short a while then to 60OTU I think.

Alex

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Got his logbook-it looks like an attack by I/NJG 2 on 18-19 Aug 41; possible victim of Struening?

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Logbook shows he was flying T3931 on 18-19 Aug 41 & when he and Sgt Thornley were landing at Coleby Grange, they were attacked by a Ju 88 (almost definitely Ofw Heinz Struening). Then on 20 Aug in the same ac with Sgt Hare, they were attacked by an intruder on take off from Coleby and the same aircraft bombed Coleby. Of interst, his logbook ntes that on 14 Jun, Sutton Bridge was bombed and a Havard destroyed, again it was attacked on 20 Jun and on 12 Aug, as he took off from Coleby saw Waddington being attacked

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Chris,

Where might I find out more about F/O Norman Head's time with 96 Squadron? I am particularly interested in his sortie on 14/15 March 1944 when flying with F/O Arthur Andrews as his observer, when they claimed 2 Ju88's one of which was W/Nr 140099 ?

Many thanks

Nick

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

I will have to see if I can locate my copy of his logbook but having recently moved house, I cannot say for certain where it is at the moment

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Thanks Chris - we are putting together a temporary display of information and artifacts relating to the loss of W/Nr 140099 at our local museum and have very little information on F/O's Head and Andrews so anything you may have would be very much appreciated.
Regards
Nick

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Found it. Scrambled in MM451 & flight lasted 2 hrs 10 mins. In a note it says destroyed 2 Ju 88. One mid Channel 2nd fell Hildenborough Nr Tunbridge near Flying Dutchman pub.

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

That's great Chris - I have been trying to discover which aircraft he was flying.

I have a copy of the combat report which gives a take-off time from West Malling of 22.14 hours landing back there at 00.19.
First combat timed at 23.12 (initially thought to be a Ju 188) but ADGB (whatever that may be) later confirmed it to have been a Ju 88 which crashed near Tonbridge.
Second combat timed at 23.41 was Ju 88 W/Nr 140099 which crashed at Blackbrook.

The armament report states rounds fired were : 100 X 20mm SAPI plus 100 x 20mm HEI rounds. I presume the latter could stand for high explosive incendiary but do you know what SAPI stands for ?

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

SAPI = semi-armour piercing incendiary

ADGB = Air Defence Great Britain, what was left of Fighter Command after 2 TAF was spun off.

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Thanks Bill.

Can anyone tell me what the squadron/aircraft code would have been for MM451.

I understand that the aircraft was abandoned over the sea following an engine failure on 7 June 1944. Sadly both of the crew P/O John Allen (Pilot) and F/Sgt William Patterson (observer) were killed.

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Chris,

Interesting info on the serial number of the Mosquito XIII flown by Head on the night of 14/15 March. In Those Other Eagles Shores shows HK406 being flown on this mission, so he may have mixed some of the others up.
I would be very greatful if you could be so kind as to check the serials for Head's other claims and confirm or correct Shores' list as follows:

02/03.01.44 HK372
21/22.01.44 HK372
22/23.03.44 MM451

Thanks,
Tom

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Tom

These match

Chris

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Norman only started putting in codes from June 44 onwards but not linked with the serials. The only photo I have is of ZJ-B which looks to be HK417. I also have a camera gun still of one of his Ju 88 kills but which one I cannot say

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Chris,

Much obliged to you. By the way, HK417 was flown by S/L W.P. Green in downing a V-1 during the night of 28/29 July 1944.

Cheers,
Tom

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Chris,

Was Flt Lt Head's first Ju88 claimed on 14/15 March 1944 B3+CK of 2/KG54 which in "The Last Blitz" is credited to Lt Harrington (USAAF) ?

Re: Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn
 

Hi I am following up on an earlier post about my mum's uncle William Patterson as follows: "I understand that the aircraft was abandoned over the sea following an engine failure on 7 June 1944. Sadly both of the crew P/O John Allen (Pilot) and F/Sgt William Patterson (observer) were killed."
The ORB that I reviewed referred to them having reported that they were bailing out from 13,000 feet due to the port engine giving trouble 10 miles out from Manston on 7/6/44.
Does bailing out mean inevitable death, or would they have drowned, or what. Forgive my ignorance.