Norman David Crockart was born in South Africa on 27 May 1909. From 1914 till 1926 he was educated in Great Britain. He then choose for a career at sea, with the merchant navy. For six years he was at sea, first as a student quartermaster from 1926 till 1930 and from 1930 till 1932 as a 2nd quartermaster. He then joined the Royal Air Force. He became a Pilot Officer on 27 May 1932, on his 23rd birthday. He rose through the ranks and became a Squadron Leader on 1 April 1939.

He was an avid rugby, cricket and hockey player and enjoyed swimming and rowing. He was married to Jenny Baxter and lived in North London.

50 Squadron
 

On 1 September 1939 the Second World War broke out and S/L Cockart was promoted to Wing Commander on12 June 1940. On that same day he was given command of 50 Squadron, operating out of Waddington in Lincolnshire. The squadron was equipped with the Handley Page Hampden at the time and was involved in the recently started bomber war against Germany.

Two weeks later, on the night of 26/27 June 1940, he commanded an element of 50 Squadron on a mission to bomb Langenhagen airfield near Hanover. His crew consisted of F/S William Southey, Sgt Allan Ingram and Sgt Eric Turner. The crew took off from their base Waddington at 22.15 in Hampden P1239.

They reach and bomb their target and then turn around for the trip back home. On the way back they are hit in one engine by a flak battery of 3./614. The plane is damaged but W/C Crockart tries to fly the plane home. At 03.00 a radio signal is received at the base at Waddington; "Flying on one engine". Then at 03.59 another signal; "Going down 15 miles from Dutch coast".

The next day 6 Blenheims of 235 Squadron search a 20 x 20 miles square at 52.40N, 04.20 for survivors. No one was found.

W/C Crockert is found on the beach near the Dutch town of Callantsoog. The Germans bury him in the local churchyard with military honours.

On 25 July the body of Observer Sgt Allen Ingram drifted ashore in Beach area no. 21 near Årgab, Denmark. It is found by Ole Christensen. Sgt Ingram is laid to rest in Nr. Haurvig Cemetery on 28 July 1940. The other two crew members are still missing and commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial.

50 Squadron lost a second crew this night, that of New Zealander P/O Luxmoore. Their plane was hit by flak in the target area and crashed in Rethen, not far from Hanover.

W/C Crockart is buried at Callantsoog Churchyard.
 

(pictures by Evert Rentenaar)

Callantsoog, The Netherlands

See also:
F/S William Southey
Sgt Allan Ingram
Sgt Eric Turner

Sources and Acknowledgements:
Mr. Evert Rentenaar
John Ward, Squadron Profiles no.15; 50 Squadron, self published: 1999
Erroll Martyn, For Your Tomorrow, Vol. I, Christchurch: 1998
www.flensted.eu.com
www.cwgc.org

Directions to Callantsoog Churchyard

posted 9 may 2006

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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