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In about 1932 Norman joined the fledgling Matthews Aviation, owned and operated by 'Skipper Matthews', a well known Melbourne pilot and businessman in that era. Matthews held a PMG contract to operate an airmail service across the Bass Strait to Tasmania and King Island.
Two types of amphibious aircraft were used on this service: the three-engined Windhover and the twin-engined Cutty Sark, both of them the products of the British Saunders-Roe aircraft manufacturer. Pictures of both these aircraft appear on this page.
Betsy Thain-Gewin flew with Norman on the first flight to King Island, and wrote an account of the event, which you can read here.
In 1933 the Cutty Sark while being piloted by Norman made a forced landing in the Bass Straight. Link to newspaper cutting.
Norman left Matthews to join Qantas in August 1934.
Norman standing in front of the Windhover; other passenger not identified. c. 1933
The Windhover in the air
The Cutty Sark
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