Royal Australian Air Force airman
Norman Francis Williams, rear gunner in a
Halifax bomber, he was credited with shooting down 8
German aircraft and damaging several others, making him the RAAF's only "
ace" who was not a
fighter
Early life
Williams was born in
Narrandera, New South Wales, the eldest child of Elsie Mary Gibbs and William Francis Williams. He was educated on the family farm until the family moved to
Leeton, New South Wales, where his father ran a garage. He attended St Joseph's Convent School and then the Catholic College run by the
Marist Brothers in
Sale, Victoria. He left school aged 16, and worked in Leeton.
Second World War
He was working for the New South Wales Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission at the outbreak of the Second World War. He joined the
, flying ahead of the main force to mark targets.
His aircraft was severely damaged on a raid over
nightfighter, which blew up. The bomber dropped its bomb load, but was attacked by a second German fighter. With bullet wounds in his stomach and legs, Williams legs were paralysed, but he managed to shoot down the second fighter. The Halifax limped back to England, where it crash-landed. Williams was cut out of his turret, and spent several months in the hospital recuperating from his injuries. He was awarded the
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. He later said that he had been told he would have received the
Victoria Cross if he had died.
He returned to Australia in April 1944, and was posted as a tutor at the air gunnery school in
.
Later life
He joined the headquarters of
Christies Creek
, which ran through his farm, because it would adversely affect local wildlife.
He returned to the RAAF in 1952 with a short-service commission, serving as an air traffic controller during the Malayan Emergency and Korean War. He finally returned to Australia in April 1954, and resigned his commission as an acting squadron leader in September 1954.
He married Maisie Lamont in 1951. He died peacefully at Barham, New South Wales. He was survived by his wife and their three children.
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