NORRISS, Patrick James
| Service Number: | 406551 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, 27 May 1916 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mining Plant Operator |
| Died: | Heart attack causing air crash, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 24 May 1961, aged 44 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 406551 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 406551, Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Flight Leiutenant 2nd Squadron on 5 December, Flight Lieutenant Paddy Norriss (A47-11) was leading a flight of four Mitchells on a sweep north of Timor, when he was hit by anti-aircraft fire at Laga. His aircraft was holed in the starboard engine and Norriss shut it down to prevent the possibility of fire with the escaping fuel. A subsequent failure of the port generator made transfer of fuel from the starboard tanks impossible, and the port engine eventually became starved of fuel. Norriss was able to safely crash-land on a clay pan on Bathurst Island. | |
| 15 Jan 1947: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 406551 |
In action near Timor
On 5 December, Flight Lieutenant Paddy Norriss (A47-11) was leading a flight of four on a sweep north of Timor, when he was hit by anti-aircraft fire at Laga. His aircraft was holed in the starboard engine and Norriss shut it down to prevent the possibility of fire with the escaping fuel. A subsequent failure of the port generator made transfer of fuel from the starboard tanks impossible, and the port engine eventually became tarved of fuel. Norriss was able to safely crash-land on a clay pan on Bathurst Island. From - HIGHEST TRADITIONS
THE HISTORY OF NO 2 SQUADRON, RAAF by John Bennett pp226
Submitted 9 November 2025 by Andrew Turner
Biography contributed by Andrew Turner
At 0229 hours on 24th May, 1961, Douglas DC.4
aircraft VH-TAA under the command of
Captain P. J. Norriss with First Officer N. K. Adams and with freight and mail aboard, departed Sydney for Brisbane. In the report from the Air Safety Digest No 29, March 1962, the Commonwealth Division of Air Safety Investigation concluded that Patrick Norris suffered a heart attack mid-flight. It was believed that to relieve the pain and discomfot he released his safety belt, stood up and then collapsed across the throttle levers leaving the plane without power. Co-pilot unable to move his body and recover power in time. The co-pilot died in crash.
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