Canada, Commonwealth. An Air Crew Europe & Logbook Group to Flying Officer Hayes, RCAF, Lost over Dusseldorf

Includes: 

1. Group of Five to Flying Officer Norman Dennis Hayes, Royal Canadian Air Force, 426 Squadron: 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and War Medal 1939-1945. Un-mounted, original ribbons, very light contact, near extremely fine. 

2. RCAF Birks Memorial Bar: in silver, engraved "P/O N.D. HAYES / R.C.A.F. / DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE / 12 JUNE 1943", measuring 67 mm (w) x 14.4 mm (h), in its cardboard presentation folder, accompanied by a Memorial Bar letter from the Minister of Veteran Affairs Hughes Lapointe, PC, QC. (1950-1957). 

3. RCAF Pilot Wings: in red, white and brown embroidery, on a black wool base, black mesh backer, measuring 117 mm (w) x 45 mm (h). 

4. RCAF Reserve Lapel Badge: in silver, maker marked "BREADNER CO. LTD. OTTAWA" on the reverse, measuring 23 mm (w) x 23.5 mm (h), screwback.

5. Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot's Flying Log Book: documenting his early training, hardcover with a blue cloth cover, housing multiple ruled pages, with assorted entries in black and red inks, measuring 200 mm (w) x 220 mm (h). 

Near extremely fine.

Footnote: Norman Dennis Hayes was born in 1921, the son of Cecil Norman and Clema Irene Hayes and was from Vancouver, British Columbia. His parents were both deceased when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was also the nephew of Mrs. Mary M. Oakes of Toronto, Ontario. From February 9 to March 28, 1941, R.78252 Norman Dennis Hayes commenced Elementary Training at No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) (AKA Northern Saskatchewan) in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, aboard Tiger Moth aircraft. On April 4th of 1941, he was posted to No. 10 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Dauphin, Manitoba where he trained aboard Harvard aircraft among others. Hayes would soon see training at various locations, including Central Flying School in Trenton, Ontario, No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School in Jarvis, Ontario, No. 13 Operational Training Squadron (OTS) in Patricia Bay, British Columbia, No. 4 Wireless School in Guelph, Ontario, and others. Upon completion of his training, he became a certified pilot, with a new service number: J/17659, and was sent to the European theatre. 

J/17659 Pilot/Officer (Pilot) Norman Dennis Hayes, age 22, was flying for the Royal Canadian Air Force, 426 (B) Thunderbird Squadron (On Wings of Fire) as part of an RCAF crew of five, flying out of RAF Dishforth, aboard a Vickers Wellington BX aircraft HZ 261. In addition to pilot Hayes, the crew included R/143462 Flight Sergeant (Rear Air Gunner) Donald Andrew MacKenzie, J/20373 Flying Officer (Navigator) James Leslie Rawson, R/146946 Flight Sergeant (Bomb Aimer) Desmond Gerald Richardson and R/119136 Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Clifford Earl Schamehorn. They departed RAF Dishforth at 2314 (11:14 pm) on the evening of June 11, 1943, destined for a bombing mission in Dusseldorf, Germany. However, they did not return from a night attack against targets in Dusseldorf and were lost without a trace. All five crew were declared missing and presumed killed in action. There are multiple possible night fighter claims for this aircraft on this night, but none were definite and the Wellington may have crashed into the North Sea or near Ijsselmeer, Netherlands. 

The crew are remembered with honour on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, which commemorates by name of over 20,000 men and women of the air forces, who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth. Some were from countries in continental Europe which had been overrun but whose airmen continued to fight in the ranks of the Royal Air Force. The Memorial overlooks the River Thames on Cooper's Hill at Englefield Green between Windsor and Egham, four miles from Windsor.