LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Norman Thomas SPARROW
Service No: 416799
Born: Morphett Vale SA, 13 September 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 September 1941
Unit: No. 5 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 Operational Training Unit Beaufort aircraft DW995), Northern Ireland, 23 May 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Levi Harold and Maud Mary Sparrow, of Morphett Vale, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Morphett Vale SA
Remembered: Panel 197, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Beaufort DW995 was detailed to carry out a night non-operational navigation training exercise. The aircraft took off at 2206 hours on 22nd May 1943, and crashed into the sea off Port Rush, Northern Ireland, at 0115 hours on 23rd May 1943. All the crew members lost their lives.
The crew members of DW995 were:
Sergeant John Booth (1081352) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Charles Herbert Brumby (404015) (RNZAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Willard Irving Post (J/216240 (RCAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant Norman Thomas Sparrow (416799) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/38/145