Norman Leslie Merrett ~ Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar
RSL (Port Pirie Sub Branch) Inc.Norman Leslie Merrett was born on the 3rd December 1920 in Laura, South Australia and followed the occupation of an accountant in civilian life. He was a son of Leslie George James Merrett and Mona Edna Merrett of Port Pirie, South Australia. He joined the service on the 23rd June 1941, completed his initial training in Australia, and reached Vancouver, Canada on his twenty first birthday. During 15 months in Canada he spent about nine months as a staff pilot attached to a wireless school before being transferred to England.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross over Normandy soon after the invasion, at which period he held the rank of pilot officer, where the citation stated:
"Pilot Officer Merrett has completed many sorties, including attacks, against strongly defended enemy targets.
"In recent sorties this officer was leader of a section of aircraft detailed to attack a mortar position holding up Allied ground defences near Caen. Very heavy enemy opposition was encountered from the ground defences, and the aircraft sustained severe damage. Nevertheless, he flew in and effectively silenced the opposition.
"Pilot Officer Merrett is an exceptionally efficient member of aircraft crew."
The citation in regard to addition of the Bar read:
"Since having been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Flight-Lieut. Merrett has participated in many sorties involving harassing attacks on enemy troops and positions. He has consistently displayed the finest quality of skill and courage, setting an example worthy of the greatest praise.
"In December, 1944, Flight-Lieut. Merrett took part in an attack on an enemy field gun position, and, as he went in to attack, the aircraft was hit.
"Nevertheless he dived to low level and pressed home a vigorous attack and afterward flew the damaged aircraft to our own lines and effected a crash landing in a small field which was apparently the only one not waterlogged or ploughed up. This officer displayed unbeatable determination."
On the 11th December 1944, Flight Lieutenant Merrett in a Hawker Typhoon MK IB took off for an armed reconnaissance operation over Utrecht, Netherlands where he was shot down following a railroad attack. Seriously injured, he died as a Prisoner of War in a German Hospital on the 23rd December 12 days later. He rests at Utrecht (Soestbergen) cemetery; grave 12D 2 20.
He is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Canberra, ACT; WW II Wall of Remembrance, Adelaide, SA and the World War II Memorial Gates in Port Pirie, SA.
- National Archives of Australia https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/ItemsL…
