Norman Mitchell was born on 17 November 1922 at 22 Riley Street, Burslem, Staffordshire, to parents Joseph Mitchell and Annie Mitchell (née Critchlow). Joseph was born in Burslem on 8 July 1901 and worked as a Pottery Clerk. Annie was also born in Burslem on 3 December 1902. Joseph and Annie were married in 1922 at St Paul's Church, Burslem. They had three children: Norman (born 1922), Brenda Joan (born 1927), and Gordon (born 1930).

Before their marriage, the 1921 Census shows 18-year-old Annie Maude Critchlow living at 37 Backfield Street, Burslem. She was employed as a Potter's Carter at A.J. Wilkinson Ltd, an earthenware manufacturer. She lived with her parents, Albert (53), a Potter's Foreman, and Myra (50), and her siblings: Daisy Florence (22), a Pottery Gilder, twins Albert and Ernest (14), an apprentice Potter's Mould Maker and a Sagger Maker, Myra May (11), and Norman (9). Norman's father, Joseph Mitchell, was 19 years old and lived at 22 Riley Street, North, Burslem. He worked as a Clerk for Messrs. Hughes Pottery Manufacturer. He resided with his parents, Joseph Mitchell Snr (44), a Potter's Printer for Doulton's China Manufacturer, and his mother, Elizabeth (46).

In the 1939 Register, we cannot find Norman, although the record showing his parents is heavily redacted. Joseph and Annie are living at 57 Liverpool Road, Burslem. Joseph is a Civil Servant with Civil Defence duties for the Unemployed Assistance Board (UAB), and Annie is a Pottery Figure Worker. They have Brenda Joan recorded as living with them, but two further records are redacted.

The UAB was responsible for providing financial assistance to civilians. During the Blitz, it administered the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, which provided pensions and financial compensation to injured Civil Defence volunteers and ordinary citizens who lost their property or income due to enemy air raids. The Board also stepped in to provide financial aid and ongoing support for civilians who were evacuated from bombed cities or left destitute. Because they handled government assistance, UAB offices often worked alongside Civil Defence personnel, the Women's Voluntary Services (WVS), and local councils to coordinate emergency rest centres and welfare. 

Norman married Betty Barlow (born 15 February 1921) at St Paul’s Church, Burslem, in October 1941. They had one daughter, Carole, born in 1942. The 1939 Register shows that Betty was single, aged 18, and living at 6 Old House, Dolly's Lane, Burslem. She was employed as a China Pottery Warehouse Worker. She lived with her parents, Samuel Barlow (born 6 October 1884), a Colliery Fireman, and Esther Barlow (born 9 November 1887).

We do not know the exact date that Norman joined the forces, but we do know he served as a Wireless Operator with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. A newspaper reported that he joined in October 1941 and was killed in action while serving with No. 44 Squadron RAFVR. Norman's squadron, otherwise known as the Rhodesia Squadron, was based at Dunholme Lodge in Lincolnshire.

The Sentinel Newspaper reported he had taken part in many operational flights over Germany, and we can see one such mission in the Operations Record Book Report: 3rd September 1944.

Aircraft: Avro Lancaster Mk.III, Serial No. PB189, Squadron Letters KM-A (44 Squadron).

Times: Took off at 15:10 and returned at 19:53 on a bombing mission.

The Crew Was:

F/O Oxborrow, J.E.P. (Pilot) Sgt Cotter, D.A. F/Sgt Hamilton, H.E. F/Sgt Murphy, F.A. Sgt Mitchell, N. Sgt Fenton, D. Sgt Halliwell, J.F.C.

Mission Details: DEELEN was not attacked as clouds obscured the target. Jettisoned 2 x 1,000 lb and 4 x 500 lb bombs at 52°16' N, 04°16' E. Brought back 9 x 1,000 lb bombs.

On the night of the 12th September 1944, Norman, one of a crew of 8 men, took off in their Lancaster Bomber MK111, PB189, for a bombing raid over Stuttgart, Germany. 18 aircraft took part in the raid. Their plane was reported missing. It later transpired that they had succumbed to heavy flak and crashed into Stuttgart Freight Railway Station with the loss of all on board.

The full crew were:-

Pilot: 176017 Flt Lt John Edgar Percival Oxborrow DFC - Runnymede Memorial Panel 203. (NCO:1321378 Commission Gazetted: Tuesday 20 June, 1944) Son of Percival Coppen Oxborrow and Nellie Eva Oxborrow, of Southampton. 

2nd Pilot: 160214 Fg Off John Richard Macgregor - Runnymede Memorial Panel 207. (NCO:710140 Commission Gazetted: Tuesday 03 October, 1944) Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Macgregor, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.

Flight Engineer: 1821266 Sgt Douglas Andrew Cotter - Runnymede Memorial Panel 227. Son of James and Mary Paterson Cotter, of High Burnside, Lanarkshire.

Navigator: 184878 Flt Sgt Derek Alexander Clemence Hamilton - Runnymede Memorial Panel 211. (NCO:1320756 Commission Gazetted: Tuesday 31 October, 1944) Son of Harold Hamilton and Florence Hamilton.

Bomb Aimer: 1263101 Flt Sgt Francis Art Murphy - Runnymede Memorial Panel 220.

Mid Upper Gunner: 1880020 Sgt Douglas Penton - Runnymede Memorial Panel 236. Son of Arthur and Maud Beatrice Penton, of Wimbledon, Surrey. Husband of Eileen Violet Penton, of Wimbledon.

Rear Gunner: 2206039 Sgt James Furness Clayton Halliwell - Runnymede Memorial Panel 230.

Wireless Operator: 1580437 Sgt Norman Mitchell - Runnymede Memorial Panel 220.

Sentinel Newspaper October 11th 1945

Burslem Airman Lost

Previously reported missing on September 12th, 1944, Flight Sergeant N. Mitchell, whose wife resides at Dolly's Lane, Stanfields. Burslem. is now presumed to have lost his life.

Flight Sergeant Mitchell volunteered for the R.A.F. In October. 1941, and had taken part in many operational flights over Germany. Educated at the Moorland-Road Senior School, he was formerly on the staff of Messrs: Doulton and Co., Ltd. 

He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Mitchell, of 57. Liverpool Road, Burslem. A memorial service will be held at the Liverpool-Road Methodist Chapel, Burslem, on Sunday evening.

Norman is remembered on the Runnymede War Memorial Panel 220 and the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

For his sacrifice, he earned the 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, and War Medal 1939-45.

Sources: 

• General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 6b; Page: 196
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD - BIRTH JOSEPH MITCHELL  BUR/133/017
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD - BIRTH - Annie CRITCHLOW BUR/134/045
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD - MARRIAGE - JOSEPH AND ANNIE 4/11/005
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12619, ED 5, Sch 142; Book: 12619
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5280C
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD - BIRTH NORMAN MITCHELL BUR/02A/019
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD - BIRTH BETTY BARLOW BUR/187/99
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD - MARRIAGE - NORMAN AND BETTY 4/13/218
• Naval and Military Press; Uckfield, East Sussex, England; Airmen Died in the Second World War 1939-45 
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Author: Peter Singlehurst; Series Title: British Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1918; Archive Name: London, United Kingdom
• International Bomber Command Centre; Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England; Losses Database: Https://Internationalbcc.Co.Uk/History-Archive/Losses-Database/
• Forces War Records, UK, WWII, Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1348/uk-wwii-index-to-allied-airmen-roll-of-honour-1939-1945: accessed 2 Jul 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1348/uk-wwii-index-to-allied-airmen-roll-of-honour-1939-1945
• RECORD OF EVENTS AIR/27/451/18
• SUMMARY OF EVENTS ORB AIR/27/451/18
• https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/159108 
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000525/19451011/001/0001