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404084 Sergeant Norman MITCHELL (surname underlined)
Mother: Mrs. E. Mitchell of Mikonui, South Westland.

Norman Mitchell was born at Hokitika on the 21st May 1917, and received his secondary education at the Mikonui School, South Westland. After leaving school he was employed in various capacities and at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 7th October 1939, was employed on the Municipal Building Scheme at Westport.

Sergeant Mitchell was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 27th October 1940 and embarked by the Aorangi at Auckland on the 5th December for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada he was posted on the 23rd December to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, where he qualified as a wireless operator before proceeding on the 26th May 1941 to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan. Here on the 23rd June he was awarded the Wireless Operator Air Gunner's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant, afterwards proceeding on the 30th June to No. 1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Mitchell arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 28th July and was posted to No. 2 Radio School, Yatesbury, Wiltshire, on the 6th August for his advanced flying training; then to Lakenheath, Norfolk, on the 7th October and to No. 20 Operational Training Unit, Lossiemouth, Scotland. Here he converted to and trained on Wellington bomber aircraft before posting on the 1st May 1942 to No. 75 New Zealand Squadron at Feltwell, Norfolk. With this squadron as front gunner of Wellington bomber aircraft he took part in four operational flights to Stuttgart and Bremen (2) in Germany and mine-laying sortie to St. Nazaire, France.

Sergeant Mitchell was the front gunner of a Wellington bomber aircraft which crashed in take-off from Feltwell for Bremen on the 29th June 1942. Sergeant Mitchell losing his life.