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Hancock, Norman Patrick Watkins

Date of birth:
August 4th, 1919 (Streatham-London, Great Britain)
Date of death:
April 2003
Service number:
42122
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Promotions:
?: Acting Pilot Officer on probation;
November 6th, 1939: Pilot Officer on probation;
February 6th, 1940: Pilot Officer;
November 6th, 1940: Flying Officer;
November 6th, 1941: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.);
March 10th, 1943 - December 1st, 1943: Temporary Flight Lieutenant;
July 1st, 1945: Temporary Squadron Leader;
September 1st, 1945: Flight Lieutenant;
August 1st, 1947: Squadron Leader;
?: Wing Commander.

Career:
?: Croydon High School;
?: Wimbledon Technical School;
?: Laboratory Assistant
February 1939: Royal Air Force;
? - May 12th, 1940: No. 266 Squadron;
May 12th, 1940: No. 1 Squadron; British Rototherm;
December 1940: No. 85 Squadron;
January 1941: No. 1 Squadron;
? - May 21st, 1941: No. 261 Squadron;
May 21st, 1941: No. 185 Squadron;
May 22nd, 1941: Flight Commander B Flight, No. 185 Squadron;
September 1941: Instructor No. 71 Operational Training Unit;
1942: No. 5 (SAAF) Squadron;
July 1942: No. 250 Squadron;
November 1942: Commanding Officer No. 250 Squadron;
January 1943: Liaison Officer Turkish Air Force;
February 6th, 1943: Reserves;
?: Instructor No 2. Egyptian Air Force Squadron;
?: Air Staff Heliopolis;
1946: Commanding Officer No. 595 Squadron;
October 1946: Headquarters British Component in Japan;
?: Commanding Officer No. 11 Squadron;
1950 - 1952: Senior Personnel Staff Officer No. 12 Group;
1953: Commanding Officer No. 33 Squadron;
?: Headquarters Maintenance Command;
April 1957 - 1958: Headquarters Bomber Command;
August 12th, 1958: Retirement (Wing Commander).

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 250 (Sudan) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
December 29th, 1942
Citation:
"In November, 1942, this officer led the squadron some 200 miles in bad weather to intercept an enemy air transport convoy. The formation arrived at precisely the right tune and. in the ensuing engagement 7 of the transports were shot down and 5 were destroyed on the ground. Flight Lieutenant Hancock, whose leadership was outstanding, shot down a Heinkel in and destroyed 3 aircraft on the ground. On another occasion he participated in an attack on German E boats which were operating against a harbour in our hands. During the engagement 4 E boats were sunk, one of them by Flight Lieutenant Hancock.
This officer, who formerly fought in France and in the Battle of Britain, has always displayed great skill and determination."

LG 35837/5637.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Squadron Leader
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1946

LG 37407/130.
King's/Queen's Commendation for valuable service in the air

Sources

  • - The London Gazette of 5th December 1939, Issue 34747
    - The London Gazette of 27th February 1940, Issue 34801
    - The London Gazette of 3rd January 1941, Issue 35032
    - The London Gazette of 20th January 1942, Issue 35426
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 25th December 1942, Issue 35837, dated 29th December 1942
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 18th June 1943, Issue 36063, dated 22nd June 1943
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th January 1944, Issue 36354, dated 1st February 1944
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 24th August 1945, Issue 37240, dated 28th August 1945
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 9th November 1945, Issue 37345, dated 13th November 1945
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th December 1945, Issue 37407, dated 1st January 1946
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 7th February 1947, Issue 37878, dated 11th February 1947
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 1st august 1947, Issue 38035, dated 5th August 1947
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 8th August 1958, Issue 41469, dated 12th August 1958
    - Battle of Britain London Monument

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