On 10th of September 1939, Norman Macqueen was at No 3 Depot at Padgate, near Warrington in Cheshire where he joined the service as an Aircraftman 2nd Class with other recruits. This was the commencement of his training programme which later that year took him to the north of Scotland at RAF Wick. His final posting was to Malta as a member of the famous 249 Squadron.
In December 1939, Norman joined the RAF Training Wing at Hastings and his first promotion came on 1st of January 1940 to Leading Aircraftman. By May 1940 he was at RAF Castle Bromwich (now Birmingham International Airport) and during October 1940 he was promoted to Sergeant as part of a transition to his Commission.
Norman was confirmed in appointment and promoted to the rank of Flying Officer with effect from 19th of October 19th 1940 but with seniority back-dated to 12th of October 1940. However, on 12th of November 1940, Norman was granted a Commission as a Pilot Officer in the GD Branch, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve for the duration of hostilities. As an officer, Norman was posted to 610 Squadron for two weeks before a further posting to 602 Squadron on 16th of December 1940. He was granted the paid Acting Rank of Flight Lieutenant on 16th of October 1941 and on 31st of January 1942 it was confirmed that Norman was to retain the rank of Acting Paid Flight Lieutenant and this coincided with his service at RAF Redhill in Surrey. It was during this period that Norman was selected for service overseas. His service record confirms his appointment to HQ Mediterranean as 9th of February 1942 and then to 249 Squadron on 8th of March 1942. At this time, 249 Squadron had been sent to Malta. The unit was based at RAF Ta Kali and it was to play a major role in the defence of the island against the German and Italian forces.
In February 1942 Squadron Leader Stan Turner arrived to take over 249 and he brought a lot of valuable experience of flying tactics with him. The first contingent of 15 Spitfires (Mk Vs) flew into Malta from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle (Operation Spotter). Norman Macqueen was part of this operation. More Spitfires were to follow later to augment the number of aircraft, later combined military efforts from Malta were to wreak havoc on enemy shipping and vital supplies to German and Italian forces in North Africa, thus German advances in this theatre of war were frustrated thanks to Malta.
It was soon clear that his combat experience over the Channel was to pay dividends over the skies of Malta as a mainstay of the Squadron, he was a popular and well liked member of the team. He was certainly one of the most successful pilots in the early weeks of Spitfire operations on the island.
His first victory in Malta came on 14th of March 1942 with a Bf 109 destroyed over the island of Gozo. Later, during the month two more Messerschmitts followed to add to the score. In April, he destroyed three Ju 88s and shared a claim in the destruction of a Bf 109. On May 1st he was to claim another share in the destruction of another Bf 109, this victory was to take his tally to seven and two shared destroyed and four planes damaged. However, he was bounced by some Bf 109s from lll/JG53. One Bf 109 managed to dive through the Spitfires and pull up and fired a quick snap shot in the underside of Macqueen's Spitfire (BR226). It was reported that he faltered and in the event he continued to fly his aircraft almost all the way back to Ta Kali before nose diving into the ground just short of the runway. Radio contact had been lost with Mac and it was believed that the tracer fire in the attack had wounded him and as a result he had lost consciousness on the way back to Ta Kali.
The London Gazette dated 1st of May 1942 carried the announcement of the award of a DFC to Flt Lt Macqueen. His parents would have received a telegram from the War Office advising them of his death.
This officer carried out a large number of sorties over enemy-occupied territory and destroyed 1 enemy aircraft whilst based in this country. In the Middle East he has destroyed a further 4 hostile aircraft. Throughout his operational career, Flight Lieutenant Macqueen has rendered most valuable service. He has displayed great skill and leadership.
Norman Carter Macqueen was laid to rest in the Kalkara Cemetery which belonged to the Admiralty and he shares the grave with other RAF personnel. The cemetery contains many graves from the 1914-1918 War as well as a number of Commonwealth graves. There are a number of sections in the cemetery. Malta is only a comparatively small island and land space is a valuable commodity. Kalkara Cemetery is near Rinella, a bay and hamlet opposite Valetta across the mouth of the Grand Harbour situated on a peninsula. The cemetery is maintained to a very high standard as a sombre memorial to those many people who made the supreme sacrifice in the prosecution of war. The name N.C. Macqueen DFC is inscribed on the memorial stone at the Garden of Remembrance in Rhyl along with many other names of the fallen. After his death of his father in 1979, the ashes of Joseph Gordon Macqueen were scattered near the stone in the Garden of Remembrance. Normans father outlived his wife and three sons and this final act was the best that could be done to unite a dear father and a beloved son.
