Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1912 in the Barton upon Irwell R.D. - ref:
8c/1223, the second son of George & Gertrude Agnes Spark (nee Oddie).

In 1911, his parents - George & Gertrude Agnes Spark were residing at 30
Stretford Road, Urmston (presumably where Norman was born in 1912???).  
George was a 37 year old Builder's Clerk and Gertrue was aged: 32.  They
had a 6 month old son - Joseph Spark.

CWGC - Son of George and Gertrude Agnes Spark, of Urmston, Lancashire.

156 Sqn was a 'Pathfinder' Sqn.

The other five crew members with whom he is buried at Coutisse:-

37566 Squadron Leader (Pilot) James Beavis, 156 Squadron, Royal Air Force,
died 11th August 1942, aged 28. Son of Ernest Norman and Adelaide Mary
Beavis, of East Horsley, Surrey; husband of Nicotine Yvonne Elizabeth
Beavis.

48963 Pilot Officer (Air Gunner) Raymond Cecil Embelin, 156 Squadron, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 11th August 1942, aged 25. Son of Arthur
and Ethel I. Embelin, of Leyton, Essex.

921818 Sergeant Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Henry Douglas Hurst, 156
Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 11th August 1942, aged
29.

591613 Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Allan Frederick Wise, 156 Squadron, Royal
Air Force, died 11th August 1942, aged 22. Son of George Ellis Wise and
Frances Wise, of Pottersbury, Northamptonshire.

1260195 Sergeant Johnstone Stewart,  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 156
Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 11th August 1942, aged 21.
 Son of William Johnstone Stewart and Elizabeth Alexander Stewart, of
Dundee.

After the War, stone plaques have been placed in front of the headstones in
Coutisse Churchyard by the local Belgian people as a gesture of thanks to
these airmen and more generally all Allied troops which liberated them - a
not uncommon sight in this part of Belgium.

SEE - http://www.156squadron.com/    This website has extensive information
about Norman's flying career, from which I have extracted the following
information.   An excellant website containing an incredible amount of very
detailed information about 156 Sqadron.

Stationed at RAF Alconbury.
Squadron Leader James Beavis and his crew reported for posting on the 16th
June 1942.   They completed 8 missions before being shot down and lost. 
Norman flew 7 of his 8 missions with S/L Beavis.
21st June 1942 - Wellington - Took off at 23.55 hrs for a Gardening Mission
(laying mines) and returned at 04.40 hrs.  Norman's first mission.
25th June 1942 - Wellington - Under the Captaincy of Sgt A.F. Galley, the
a/c took off at 22.50 hrs to Bomb Bremen and returned at 005.50 hrs having
managed to shake off a fighter attack.
2nd July 1942 - Wellington - Took off at 23.25 hrs to bomb Bremen and
returned at 04.25 hrs.
8th July 1942 - Wellington - Took off at 23.45 hrs to bomb Wilhelmshaven
and returned at 04.35 hrs.
13th July 1942 - Wellington - Took off at 00.15 hrs to bomb Duisberg and
returned at 04.15 hrs.
23rd Jly 1942 - Wellington - Took off at 00.30 hrs to bomb Duisberg and
returned at 04.30 hrs.
26th July 1942 - Wellington - Took off at 22.40 hrs to bomb Hamberg and
returned at 04.25 hrs.   They were hit by a Flack burst just after bombing
at 01.05 hrs and were coned by searchlights 10 miles east of Stade at 01.26
hrs flying at 13,000 ft.   A/c attacked by a fighter to which they could
not return fire because of S/L dazzle.  Evaded fighter attack by dropping
down to 50 feet from where they were able to partly shoot out the S/Ls.
11th August 1942 - Wellington - Took off at 22.41 hrs to bomb Mainz.  The
a/c crashed and burst into flames at Coutisse at 01.55 hrs, in the Namur
area of Belgium, east of Charleroi.

See also the following websites;- 
http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww2_cemeteries_ext/coutisse_churchyard.htm
http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/coutisse.htm