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Litchfield, Norman Eric

Date of birth:
April 7th, 1914
Service number:
1381741 (NCO)/111470 (Officer)
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Norman Litchfield, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, served from 1942 to 1944 as a flying instructor, and then distinguished himself on 90 operational sorties in Mosquito’s of 105 Squadron, of which 69 as a marker.

Promotions:
11 November 1940: Enlistment:
? Sergeant
4 November, 1941 : Pilot Officer on Probation (Emergency)
5 November, 1941: Pilot's Wings received
1 October, 1942: Flying Officer (war sub)
4 November, 1943: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
9 januari 1946: Released from service
7 April, 1959: removed from the Royal Air Force Reserve as Flight Lieutenant

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 105 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
February 16th, 1945
Recommendation:
"Flight Lieutenant Litchfield joined Path Finder Force in May 1944. Since then he has completed 57 operational sorties, with no less than 45 in the role of marker. His work during the whole of this period has been excellent and he has in all these sorties displayed a cool courage and tenacity of purpose that has been a grand example to his fellows. His skill as a pilot and his ability to handle any situation in his capacity of captain of aircraft has enabled him to bring many of his sorties to a successful end, despite the most adverse conditions."
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 105 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
September 21st, 1945
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Recommendation:
"Flight Lieutenant Litchfield commended his operational career when he joined Path Finder Force in May 1944, and he has now completed 90 sorties, no less than 69 of these being in the roll of marker. Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross in November 1944, he has carried out a further 33 sorties and he has consistently shown himself to be a pilot of the most outstanding ability. Despite enemy opposition and adverse conditions he has always pressed home his attacks with outstanding courage, determination, and the greatest devotion to duty, achieving results of the highest order. His operational record is one that provides a noteworthy example for all crews."

Second DFC awarded as a bar.
The London Gazette gives that his rank at this time as Flying Officer which seems a mistake.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Permanently awarded on 31st March 1945.
Path Finder Force Badge

Sources

Photo