Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William and Edith May Dwyer, of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.

F/O Norman Dwyer was one of ten men in Catalina aircraft A24-67 of #20 Squadron. The aircraft was based at Cairns, Queensland, and took off on an operational flight on 1 October 1943. After refuelling in Darwin, the aircraft took off to undertake a night torpedo attack on a merchant ship. After dropping a torpedo, the aircraft was shot down at Pomelaa (Celebes) by anti-aircraft fire and soon after, burst into flames. Lt/Comm Carr managed to escape, suffering burns, as well as P/O McDiarmed who was suffering serious leg injuries. Both men were taken prisoner by the Japanese but P/O McDiarmed died soon after from his injuries. The remainder of the crew were never found and their date of death was officially presumed as 1 October 1943.
The crew were:
W/C SG Stilling, Captain (RAF, DFC)
F/Lt JR Hyde, Pilot
F/Lt JM Barnes, Navigator (RCAF)
F/O NF Dwyer, Navigator
F/O RF Dickinson, WOA/G
P/O DG McDiarmed, WOA/G
Sgt FH Thomson, Fitter
Sgt T McMahon, Fitter
Cpl SJ Carnell, Armourer
Lt/Com PE Carr, Royal Aust Navy (passenger)

Among lads staying recently with Mr. and Mrs. Norman Dwyer at Randwick is F/O. Ian Taylor. Ian Taylor, 21, ts an instructor at a Victorian training unit, after service in the North.  He is a Scotsman, and ls engaged to a girl in his home city, Glasgow. 
Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer have a hotel at Randwick, and have had many British airmen staying there as their personal guests. Their only son, P/O. Norman Dwyer, has been reported  missing in New Guinea. It was because of the kindness of English people to Norman Dwyer that his parents asked Air Force House to tell them of any English boys who would like  to stay with them. "Norman was two and a half years in the Middle East and in England," said Mrs. Dwyer. "The English people were wonderful to him. "He wrote to me and said:  'Mum, if any English boys come to Australia I hope you'll be good to them. Their people have been wonderful to me.' "