Norman Keith Adams Prize

History of the prize

The Norman Keith Adams Prize is one of the premier prizes of the Society and is awarded annually for the best article in RadCom. It is named after Pilot Officer Norman Keith Adams, G5NM. Pre-war, Norman Adams was a solicitor living in North London. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 and died on 21 August 1942 in a Shorts Sunderland III Registration W4029 flying boat returning to Gibraltar. In the flying accident in Gibraltar Bay, sadly 11 of the 12 people on the aircraft died.

This flight was described in the June 1944 RGSB Bulletin as a “special assignment” connected with the planned invasion of North Africa. The article goes on to comment, “The news of his death was received in British amateur radio circles with great sadness for although young in years, it was recognised he had achieved much”.

Early on the same article it says “…he was one of the first contingent of British radio amateurs to arrive in France (in 1939) after the outbreak of hostilities. The nature of his work then and subsequently, cannot yet be disclosed but it is known his pre-war radio experience was soon put to good use.”  He was 26 years old when he died. The prize remains a fitting memorial to a fellow radio amateur who gave his life in the service of his country and has no known grave.

In 1944, his parents Henry and Mabel Adams of Finchley, North London gifted £150 (£5,500 in 2023 terms) to the RSGB to create a permanent memorial to their son. This prize was set up under a Declaration of Trust by the Society (a formal document creating a Trust) dated 3 May 1944 and sets the terms and conditions for the prize and the monies.

Can you help?

The RSGB Honorary Treasurer, Chris Wood, GD6TWF is interested in speaking to any family members of Pilot Officer Norman Keith Adams, G5NM or any RSGB member who is in contact with the family. If you have any information that would help, please contact Chris via his email hon.treasurer@rsgb.org.uk

In addition to this request for help from RSGB members, the Society is undertaking family history research to identify living relatives.

Category: Front Page News, RSGB Notices