Bio / Text:
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Birth: Nov. 5, 1921
Death: Dec. 7, 1941
Service Number: R/88806
Royal Canadian Air Force
Norman was the husband of Florence Marguerite Louise Barbeau, of Montreal, Quebec. There was six boys in his family and four of them served during WWII .. two in RCAF and two in R.C.O.C.
Age 20
He was killed when his Spitfire X4354 of 52.O.T.U struck a petrol tanker on take off and in flight the port wing became detached causing the aircraft to go down. He managed to crash the Spitfire into a tree close to Ermin Street to avoid killing any people close by. (Stratton St. Margaret near Swindon Wiltshire). The people of the town have a bench & a memorial garden in his memory and honour.
He is commemorated on page 23 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance and there is a Tribute to him on the Roll Call of Honour website.
Note:
Apparently people passed buckets of water to each other to put out the fire where the plane hit the tree. The tree that was hit is still growing today.
Info source - contributor Martin Little (#48908157) whose father was one of the men who helped put out the fire. His father also had some contact with Sgt. Barbeau's family.
Burial:
Holy Trinity Churchyard
Minchinhampton
