LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Reginald George NORRIS
Service No: 821
Born: Sydney NSW, 12 May 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 4 March 1940
Unit: No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Evans Head NSW
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School Battle aircraft L5683), off Terrigal NSW, 16 January 1941, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Norman Hodgson Norris and Eppie Norris
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 5, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Eastwood War Memorial, Eastwood NSW
At 1445 hours on 16 January 1941, Fairey Battles L5683 and 5700 collided in full flight during a ferry flight from Richmond to Evans Head, and crashed into the sea three miles east of Terrigal, New South Wales. The collision occurred during a slow turn to port. The pilots in both aircraft lost their lives. Leading Aircraft MacPherson was rescued by a boat from a collier.
The crew members were:
Pilot Officer Reginald George Norris (821) (Pilot L5683)
Leading Aircraftman Alexander McIntyre McPherson (21026) (Supernumerary L5700) Baled out safe, Discharged from the RAAF: 20 November 1945
Flying Officer Thomas Kenneth Wright (768) (Pilot L5700)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/49/13
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line