F/L Max R Norem RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1944/45
Failed to Return – 5/6th March 1945 – Avro Lancaster III – PB563 – Op Chemnitz.
Max Norem ( pictured above ) and crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds about November 1944. Exact date not recorded. They were lost on their 17th operation. See below :-
29-Dec-44 - Scholven Buer - Lancaster - LM132 - F/L MR Norem
31-Dec-44 - Osterfeld - Lancaster - PD427 - F/L MR Norem
02-Jan-45 - Nuremberg - Lancaster - N/K - F/L MR Norem
05-Jan-45 - Hanover - Lancaster - NG360 - F/L MR Norem
14-Jan-45 - Merseburg - Lancaster - NG360 - F/L MR Norem
16-Jan-45 - Zeitz - Lancaster - NG360 - F/L MR Norem
28-Jan-45 - Stuttgart/Zuffenhausen - Lancaster - NG492 - F/L MR Norem
01-Feb-45 - Ludwigshafen - Lancaster - NG492 - F/L MR Norem
02-Feb-45 - Wiesbaden - Lancaster - NG492 - F/L MR Norem
03-Feb-45 - Bottrop - Lancaster - NN758 - F/L MR Norem
07-Feb-45 - Kleve - Lancaster - NF909 - F/L MR Norem
15-Feb-45 - Aarhus Bay - Lancaster - LM177 - F/L MR Norem
23-Feb-45 - Pforzheim - Lancaster - PB563 - F/L MR Norem
24-Feb-45 - Kattegat - Lancaster - LM177 - F/L MR Norem
01-Mar-45 - Mannheim - Lancaster - PB563 - F/L MR Norem
02-Mar-45 - Cologne - Lancaster - PB563 - F/L MR Norem
05-Mar-45 - Chemnitz - Lancaster - PB563 - F/L MR Norem – FTR - Crashed East of Konigerade, Germany.
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F/L Max Raymond Norem RAFVR – Pilot - 23 – 103 Sqn - Son of Nils Severin Norem and Freda Helen Norem of Firwood, Lancashire - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
F/O Keith Jackson RNZAF ( pictured above ) – Pilot - 24 - 103 Sqn - Son of Andrew Scott Jackson and Ethel Maud Jackson of Wellington City, New Zealand - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
F/O George Laurence Taylor RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 22 - 103 Sqn - Son of George Albert and Selina Taylor of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
F/S Jack Adams Wright RAFVR – Air Bomber - 21 - 103 Sqn - Son of John William (Jack) and Eva Wright of Leeds, Yorkshire - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
F/S John Alexander Green RAFVR – Navigator - 32 - 103 Sqn - Son of George John and Annie Green of Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
F/O Frank William Elliott DFM RAFVR – Wireless Operator - 25 - 103 Sqn - Son of William Frank and Fanny Elliott - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Robert Steedman Brown RAFVR – Air Gunner - 33 - 103 Sqn - Son of Robert Steedman Brown and Lily Brown of Glasgow - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Walter Seeckts RAFVR – Air Gunner - 103 Sqn - Berlin 39-45 War Cemetery, Germany
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05-Mar-45 - Chemnitz
103 Squadron detailed 14 aircraft for this attack on Chemnitz. All took off in poor weather of low cloud and drizzle. F/O Ross returned early with an unserviceable engine. On arrival in the target area it was found to be covered in 10/10ths cloud with tops around 11000 ft. On instructions from the Master Bomber all crews bombed the Wanganui flares. These were however very scattered and it was feared the attack was inaccurate and poor but cloud prevented any accurate observation. Bombing took place from between 15000 ft to 17000 ft. Defences were a very light heavy flak barrage. Plenty of fighters were seen and F/O Short was attacked by 3 Ju 88s in the target area. But no personal injuries were sustained. Dummy TIs were seen approximately 20 miles from the town on the run in. F/L Norem and F/O Exel are missing from this operation. All the remaining aircraft returned safely.
For this attack on Chemnitz Bomber Command detailed a total of 760 aircraft - 498 Lancasters, 256 Halifaxes, 6 Mosquitos - to continue Operation Thunderclap. The operation started badly when 9 aircraft of No 6 Group crashed near their bases soon after taking off in icy conditions. No 426 Squadron, at Linton-on-Ouse, lost 3 out of their 14 Halifaxes taking part in the raid in this way, with only 1 man surviving. 1 of the Halifaxes crashed in York, killing some civilians. 22 further aircraft were lost in the main operation - 14 Lancasters and 8 Halifaxes.
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Lancaster - PB563
This machine gave good service and was lost on its 47th operation. It was first flown operationally by P/O H C Sutton and crew way back in September 1944. See below :-
10-Sep-44 - Le Havre - Lancaster - PB563 - P/O HC Sutton.
Item compiled by David Fell. Jackson photo from the Auckland War Museum Virtual Cenotaph. Norem photo Wessel Scheer
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