Robert Simeon “Simmie” Norris was born on October 28, 1919, in Georgia. He was the son of Thurman Cooper Norris and Elizabeth Coleman Flynt Norris. He was a C-47 flight engineer, stationed at Istres, France.

At the time of his death, Robert was a passenger aboard the Douglas C-47 Skytrain #43-16394 during World War II. On February 11, 1945, his airplane took off at 0950hrs from A-54 airbase, Le Bourget, France, bound for Army Airbase 519 at Grove in Berkshire. At approximately 1125hrs, an aircraft was reported over RAF Tangmere flying at 300ft to 400ft heading north. Visibility at that time was 100 yards and ceiling zero. At 1200hrs, reports came into RAF Tangmere that an aircraft had crashed into a hill north of the airfield. The investigating officers believed that the aircraft had descended during the flight over the channel due to the weather conditions and poor visibility and that they did not realize that they were now over land. The aircraft hit some trees which caused the wing and cargo door to be torn off, and the aircraft crashed to the ground killing all on board.

Sgt Norris is now buried in the Cedar Hill Cemetery, Cochran, Bleckley County, Georgia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, sussexhistoryforum.co.uk