A SUPERB WW2 ‘617’ SQUADRON ‘CATERPILLAR CLUB’ MEMBERSHIP, MEDALS AND DOCUMENTS GROUP TO AN AIR BOMBARDIER WHO’S AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN DURING A DISASTROUS ‘SPECIAL DUTIES’ OPERATION IN WHICH 2 OUT OF 4 LANCASTER’S WERE LOST ON THE NIGHT OF 10/11 DECEMBER 1943. BAILING OUT AND TAKEN PRISONER, A DETAILED ACCOUNT WAS LEFT BY HIM IN 1978

741450 Warrant Officer Norman Batey, of Burnopfield, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, was born on 16 December 1922 and enlisted for service with the R.A.F.V.R. on 11 August 1941. Qualifying as an Air Bombardier, Batey is first picked up being posted to 49 Squadron from 165 Conversion Unit on 3 July 1943. Operating with Lancaster III’s from Fiskerton, Batey would take part in 11 operations with 49 Squadron, initially with F/O Cottingham’s crew, who he had been with at 165 Conversion Unit. Batey’s first Operation was a baptism of fire, being a raid on Essen, on the night of 25/6 July 1944. This was followed by a raid on Hamburg the following day and another raid on Hamburg on the night of 29/30 July. Raids on Milan, Leverkusem and Muchen Gladbach followed and on the night of 31 August/1 September, a raid on Berlin, during which one of the crew shot down an enemy fighter. On 5/6 September, Batey flew his last raid with the Cottingham crew, a raid on Mannheim and on 22/23 September, flew with the crew of P/O Tavender on a raid on Hanover. The following evening, he joined W/O Bull’s crew on another raid on Mannheim. Four days later, W/O Bull’s crew, including the newly joined Sergeant Batey, were posted to 617 Squadron on 27 September 1943………

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Lot includes:
1) 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence and War Medal 1939-1945. Un-mounted, original ribbons.

2) Royal Air Force Service and Release Book "1479659 W/O N BATEY", with Class of Release noted as "PoW".

3) Caterpillar Club Membership Card "W/O N. BATEY", signed by Leslie Irvin, Honourable Secretary of the European Division of Irvin Parachute Co., address label affixed to the reverse, numbered "01169"

4) Caterpillar Club Letter, dated April 19, 1945, addressed to "Mrs. Batey, Newcastle-on-Tyne"

5) 617 Squadron Aircrew Association Membership Card "N. Batey L 120", laminated and his Bomber Command Association Membership Card

6) Copy two page typed 1978 dated letter from Batey, describing in detail his last flight and capture

7) Air Bombardier wing

Also copy pages of Batey’s sorties from 49 and 617 Squadrons Operations Record Books, Wiltshire memoir, Report on Lancaster loss, POW details etc.