Heal, Norman John

Norman Heal was born in Stratford on 17 February 1923, the son of Ernest Norman and Ellen Harriet Heal of Fitzroy, New Plymouth. 

He attended New Plymouth Boy's High School from 1938 till 1941. He then worked as a clerk for Newton King Ltd.

He volunteered for the Army and was sent first to Waiouru and then Linton for training. He then transferred to the RNZAF in March 1944 and began his training at Taieri and later at Ohakea. He qualified as a Wireless Operator, Air Gunner in September 1944 and was posted to No. 8 Squadron in the Pacific in November 1944. 

On December 4 1944 Heal and his crew members died when their aircraft crashed while landing, with a full load of bombs, at Funafuti, Ellice Island. His body was recovered and is buried at the War Cemetery, Bourail, New Caledonia. He was 21 when he died.

Documents

Taranaki Daily News 11 December 1944