The Airmen's Stories - P/O N R Norfolk

Norman Robert Norfolk was born on 21st November 1912 in Nottingham where he was in the county rugby team and also a noted cricketer.

He was educated at Southwell Grammar School then employed by the Bestwood Coal and Iron Company.

He entered the RAF on 29th June 1936 as a trainee pilot. He passed his initial assessment and was enlisted into the RAF as a direct-entry Airman u/t Pilot.

Norfolk married Doreen Elizabeth Faulkner at Wollaton on 23rd February 1939.

His prewar service is currently undocumented but he was serving with 72 Squadron at Leconfield by 15th October 1939. He was still with the squadron at the start of the Battle of Britain.

Following a combat with Me109s off Dungeness on 1st September 1940 he returned to Croydon with a severely damaged tail unit. The next day, after damaging a Me110, he was shot down in combat over Herne Bay in Spitfire K9938, which crashed and burned out at Garrington Farm, near Bekesbourne emergency landing ground. Norfolk baled out, unhurt.

On the 7th and 11th he destroyed Do17s, on the 15th he probably destroyed a He111, on the 27th he destroyed a Do17 and probably another and on 25th October he damaged a Me110.

Norfolk was commissioned on 17th September 1940.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 7th January 1941), credited with at least four enemy aircraft destroyed.

Norfolk was released from the RAF in 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant. He joined the newly formed National Air Traffic Control Service, becoming in turn superintendent of the ATC School at Hurn Airport, the Scottish ATC at Prestwick and the London ATC at Heathrow.

In 1968 he was made OBE for services to civil aviation. The citation claimed that he had completed two tours with Bomber Command.

Norfolk died on 13th March 2005.