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