249

N.R. OVEREND.
2. (centre aligned)

Wellington bomber aircraft before posting on the 24th March 1944 to No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit, first at Stradishall, Suffolk, and later at Shepherd Grove, for conversion to Stirling bomber aircraft. During June he converted to Lancaster bomber aircraft at No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School, Feltwell, and on the 18th June was posted to No. 15 Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk. From this base, as captain of a Lancaster bomber, he took part in 19 operational flights, the targets including Stuttgart, Stettin, and Russelsheim, in Germany; V weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area, France; transport, panzer and troop concentrations at Villers Bocage, Amaze, Foret de Lucheux, Fort d'Euglos, St. Quentin and Le Havre, all in France; V weapon stores at Beauvoir, Wyzerues, and Bois de Sassau; and marshalling yards at Aulnoye and Lens.

F/O Overend was the pilot of a Lancaster bomber aircraft engaged on the night of the 12/13th September 1944, in bombing Frankfurt, Germany and which failed to return to its base. All the crew, including F/O Overend, were classified as missing. Later information was received from a German source through the International Red Cross Committee that F/O Overend had lost his life and in consequence he was reclassified to missing, believed killed in action. In due course his death was presumed to have occurred on the 12th September 1944. Later information from captured German documents disclosed the F/O Overend was buried in the Town Cemetery at Heidelberg, Germany.

Find a Grave link with photos of F/O Overend: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18611819/norman_rupert-overend

5/2/8644 AS2
586 hrs. as pilot.

Mrs. A. Overend (M) (right aligned)
Otahuna, Tai Tapu, (right aligned)
CHRISTCHURCH. (right aligned & underlined)