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Vale Norm Ginn RAAF WOFF 460SQN WOAG

We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of one of our few remaining South Australian Bomber Command veterans, Norm Ginn, who served with 460 SQN in World War 2 as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner.

Norm Ginn was born in Mildura in 1923. His parents were English migrating to Australia in 1919 to assist family fruit growers in the Riverina. He went to primary and high school in Mildura but left school at the age of 15 and worked as a labourer and in a garage.

He enlisted in the RAAF on 31 January 1942 at No 1 Recruit Training Centre, Melbourne, as a trainee aircrew – he was only 18 years old.
As with most Word War 2 aircrew recruits in Australia, Ginn underwent aircrew training through the Empire Air Training Scheme. He attended No 1 Initial Training School, RAAF Somers, near Westernport Bay, from January to April 1942. He then attended No 2 Wireless Air Gunners School, Parkes, from April to October 1942 receiving his Wireless Operator Air Gunner Badge on 14 October 1942. From October to November 1942 he attended No 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at Port Pirie.

Posted to England, he attended No 21 Advanced Flying Unit during May and June 1943. He then completed heavy bomber conversion at No 27 Operational Training Unit where he was integrated with other Australians into a bomber crew training. On 31 August 1943, more than 18 months after he joined the RAAF, he arrived at No 460 Squadron based at RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire.

After workup training, he flew his first combat mission on 5 September 1943 – a bombing mission over Mannheim, Germany. With 460 SQN, Ginn flew 15 missions on Lancasters encountering and surviving enemy air defence many times through a combination of luck and aircrew airmanship.

On the night of the 2 December, Ginn was the Wireless Operator / Air Gunner on 460SQN Lancaster Mk III AR-J / JB608 flying in a mass raid against Berlin. It was the fifth attack on Berlin in ten days but one that would prove to be the blackest day in 460 SQN history. Ginn’s aircraft was one of 24 460SQN Lancaster’s and one of 401 Bomber Command bombers that took off late in the afternoon on 2 December. Of those 400 aircraft, 40 did not return; five of which were 460 SQN.

While over Berlin with the bomb doors open, Ginn’s aircraft was attacked by several aircraft. The ill timing was critical as it precluded the pilot from taking evasive action. The aircraft took substantial enemy fire and was quickly in flames with the pilot ordering his crew to bail out. Five of the crew, including Norm Ginn successfully bailed out. It was the first time he had used a parachute. Sadly, FLTLT Alford, the pilot, and PLTOFF Howe-Brown, the upper mid turret air gunner, perished in the aircraft.

Norm successfully parachuted through the flames to the ground suffering burns to his face. He landed in snow and was able to evade the Germans for three days until he was eventually captured.
He was moved to Berlin and then to Frankfurt for detailed interrogation over three weeks. On two occasions he was taken out at night and placed against a wall and threatened to be shot in attempts to get him to reveal information about new allied radios installed on the aircraft. To the frustration of his German captors, he never revealed anything.

Ginn survived the interrogation and eventually lived through the remainder of the war as a POW imprisoned in the 4B Stalag prisoner of war camp near Dresden. He attempted escapes on several occasions including working in tunnels.
In the final stages of the war, Ginn’s POW camp was freed by Russian forces only for the allied POWs to be largely released and fend for themselves for almost a month before being rounded up by the Russians and imprisoned again. Ginn, along with four others, escaped successfully making their way back through American lines to safety. Eventually returning to Australia, he was discharged in December 1945 as a Warrant Officer.

Norm Ginn was an active member of the RSL Victor Harbour. He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for support to the community in 2018 highlighting his continued service to the nation decades after World War 2. In recent years, we hve been honoured with his attendance at our ceremonies in Adelaide where he could including the Bomber Command Commemorative Service and the Air Force Birthday Ceremonies and the Remembrance Day Service at West Terrace Cemetery. He was one of our few remaining 460SQN veterans.

Vale Norm Ginn RAAF WOFF 460SQN WOAG - we salute you.

Courtesy of Air Force Association SA Division - 8 June 2022