Van Brunt, Norman Albert
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Norman Albert |
Surname | Van Brunt |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-12-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Lorne Van Brunt and Lillie Edith Van Brunt (née Williams), of Youngstown, Alberta. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W7768 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Boldre (St. John) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Row 2. Grave 5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 257 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/110223 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
On loan to Coastal Command at the time |
Norman was born in Youngstown, Alberta on 29 August 1921. His father (who was deceased by the time of Norman's enlistment) had worked as a glazer, born in Gault and his mother was born in Wales. He had sisters Grace, Anne and Nellie and brothers George, John and Fred. Norman was a member of the Salvation Army. He went to Buena Vista Public School, Saskatoon between 1927-1935. The family had moved to Saskatoon in the early 1920s and Norman became well known as an amateur boxer and was a member of the Maple Leaf Boxing Club. When his father died in 1939 his mother, brothers George, John and Fred, and sister, Grace moved to Vancouver. The sports he enjoyed were hockey, softball and boxing- extensively. Norman worked for The Great West Saddlery Company 1937-1940 and was a Truck driver at Jasper Park Lodge from April-October 1940 when the work had then finished for the year. |
He enlisted on 27 June 1941 and embarked for the U.K. on 1 June 1942. After 3PRC 12 June 1942 there was 9(O)AFU, 24 July, 22 OTU 18 August 1942, 1659 CU 28 October and 405 Squadron on 25 November 1942. He lost his life less than a month afterwards. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/38 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/37 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-12-1942 |
End Date | 20-12-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Beaulieu |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Anti-shipping patrol |
Reason for Loss | Suffered a catastrophic engine failure while flying over the Isle of Wight. Within seconds the aircraft was out of control and plunged headlong into ground at Eades Farm, Newbridge. |