Mission: Training Flight.
Date: 8th November 1940
Time: 09.05 hours.
Unit: No. 54 Squadron R.A.F.
Type: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I
Serial No. X4423
Coded: KL -
Location: Street House Farm, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England.
Pilot: Sgt Norman Richards Miller. R.A.F.V.R. 748303 Aged 21 – Killed
On 8th November 1940 the pilot of this aircraft was undertaking a training flight when, at 09.05hrs, the aircraft crashed close to Hackforth village and caught fire. A farmer, Mr James Ingledew, of Street House Farm, Hackforth, had witnessed the crash which occurred 300 yards from his location. He ran to the scene and attempted to rescue the pilot from the burning aircraft but was beaten back by the flames and exploding ammunition. Sadly the pilot died in the incident. Mr. Ingledew was awarded the Second World War British Empire Medal and Defence Medal.
Burial detail: Burton Latimer Cemetery, Northamptonshire, England.
Grave Reference: Grave 1191. Son of Samuel and Elizabeth B. M. Miller, of Burton Latimer.
Compiled and researched by M. Brownless November 2014.
On M Browless way to the Cemetery I he a lady in the village that remembered Norman’s grave as a child, she recalled it had a model plane on it! This no longer survives but he does have a wonderful grave, in which his parents are also interred.
