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Norman was my uncle and he died in 1989. Despite my fascination with WW2 Bomber Command history, no-one could get him to say very much about his experiences. After he died, I asked his widow Kath if I could see his log book: she actually gave them to me. I prepared the following synopsis for her and also for my mother, who told me that her brother wore PFF wings, although I don't think any of the squadrons he served-in were Pathfinders. Can anyone enlighten me? Anyway, here's the digest:

Flying Officer Norman Skelton Log Book

27 November 1942 — 1 CNS, Rivers, Manitoba Canada (Nav. Training, Ansons). Passed 19 March 1943.
20 August 1943 — 2 (O) AFU Millom, Cumberland (Nav Training, Wellington).
18 March 1944 — 1663 Conversion Unit, Rufforth (Halifax).
23 April 1944 — PFF Navigator Training unit, Warboys (Lancaster).
21 June 1944 — 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, Riccal, Yorks (Halifax ll).
12 July 1944 - 10 Sqdn Melbourne. First op. 18 July, Vaires marshalling yards (Halifax lll)
5 August 1944 — 78 Sqdn. Breighton. 3 ops: Foret de Nieppe, S W Caen (battle area), Foret de Normal (Halifax lll?)
11 August 1944 — 640 Sqdn, Leconfield. 14 Ops: Etaples, Russelheim, Brest, Le Havre, Sholven, Calais, Kleve, Sterkrade, Bochum, Hanover, Essen, Essen, Cologne, Sterkrade (Halifax lll).
24 February 1945 — 77 Sqdn, Full Sutton. 10 ops: Cologne, Dortmunde, Wuppertal, Bottrup, Witten, Reckinghausen, Dulmen, Sterkrade, Osnabruck, Heligoland (Halifax Vl).
23 April 1945 — 102 Sqdn, Pocklington. 1 op: Wangerooge (Halifax Vl).
29 June 1945 — 1333 TSCU, Leicester East. 3 sorties in Oxfords for Rebecca training, joined ‘A’ Flight 2 July 1945 flying Dakotas. Mainly supply and paratroop dropping plus glider towing.
6 September 1945 — Flew as passenger in Stirling PK130 and DC2 to Delhi.
21 September 1945 — 353 Sqdn, Palam, India (Dakota).
22 April 1946 - Log book ends. With 353 Sqdn, Norman logged 130 sorties, mostly as navigator/second pilot.

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