Air Gunner. Rank: Sergeant. Service No. R190343.
Early life:
Air Gunner – Norman Willard Crawford Sergeant. Service No. R190343. Norman was born on August 29, 1922 at New Brunswick. His parents: Walter Raymond Crawford and Ada Mae Wilson. Little is known of his early life but he attended school from 1929 to 1937 achieving grade VII.
In the same year he worked as a truck driver for Smiles Beverages in St. John and later with Charles Gurd until 1938. He then worked as a gas station attendant until 1941 and then doing electrical work for E.S. Stevenson in St. John.
War service:
In 1942 he applied for RCAF service as aircrew on November 2. He was living at 68, Murray Street, Saint John, New Brunswick and he was single. He had some experience and knowledge with mechanics and electrics and good physical condition and he was assessed as suitable for an aircrew trade. He was keen on hunting and fishing.
Norman progressed through the ranks and trained as an aircrew gunner on March 25 1943, achieving temporary sergeant rank on September 3.
Whilst serving at 82 O.T.U., he was killed as crew of Wellington Bomber BK387, on a training flight which crashed at Tewitt Hall Wood, Oakworth Yorkshire, on 2nd January, killing all those aboard. Buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery on 8th January. He was 21 years of age.
Information sources:
Veteran’s Affairs Canada.
WW2 service records.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Oakworth Village Society.
