Battle of Britain London Monument – F/Lt. N W Burnett 
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Privacy Statement The Airmen’s Stories – F/Lt. N W Burnett
Norman Whitmore Burnett was commissioned in the RAFO, on Reserve Category AA2, in August 1934. He transferred to the RAFVR in January 1938. Called up on 1st September 1939, he was with 266 Squadron at Wittering in June 1940. On 25th July Burnett was posted to 46 Squadron at Digby. He crashed at Hollingbourne on 8th September following a combat over Sheppey. He was admitted to hospital, wounded. His Hurricane, V6631, was a write-off.
Above: 46 Squadron October 1940
L to R: F/Lt. NW Burnett, P/O WB Pattullo, P/O CR Young, Sgt. RF Sellers and Sgt. RE de Cannart d’Hamale
Back with 46, he claimed a probable CR42 in the big Italian raid of 11th November. In late May 1941 46 Squadron sailed for the Middle East in the aircraft carrier HMS Argus. At Gibraltar pilots and aircraft were transferred to the carriers HMS Ark Royal and Furious. On 6th June they flew off to Hal Far, Malta.
Five days later Burnett was flying Z2480, one of seven Hurricanes that were scrambled to meet a heavily-escorted Italian reconnaissance aircraft. In the ensuing combat, Burnett was shot down by a Mc200. A search to within sight of the coast of Sicily failed to find any trace of him.
Burnett is commemorated on the Malta Memorial.
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