ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Flying Officer Raymond G. Norton, NZ.41649, 488 Squadron (RNZAF) was born in 1915 and signed up to defend his country at the age of twenty-five years.

Following initial flight training, he left New Zealand in 1941 as a participant in The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and sailed to Canada where he continued his flight training in Cessna Cranes and Lysanders in often freezing conditions in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He was then posted to Ireland, England and Scotland in 1943 where he trained in Beauforts, Beaufighters, and Mosquitoes. In 1945 he joined No. 488 NZ Squadron, (night fighter/flyer) based at Gilze Rijen, Holland, near Amiens-Glisy, France.

Now, in a prepared and heightened state of readiness to “finally fight the enemy” in the night skies, the finishing line was fast approaching. “488 Squadron, originally formed in 1941, was just getting into its stride when news came of disbandment.”

After surviving many life threatening ‘close shaves’ whilst flying in the prior four years, the end of his career goal to ‘join the action’ fighting the enemy in the night skies was cut short by just five days when the Germans surrendered on May 7, 1945. He was fortunate enough to survive. Many didn’t!

EDITORS BIO:  ROSEMARY C. NORTON

Rosemary Norton (nee Campbell) is the fourth adult child of the author. She is a Registered Psychologist having been in private practice since 1997 and is a published author in the area of custodial fathers post-separation.  She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her spoodle, Monty and near her two adult children and four grandchildren.