Henry Norman Cunliffe was born in Llangollen 4th December 1923, son of Stanley G Cunliffe and Laura A Cunliffe (nee Bentley). He was educated at Llangollen County School, before starting an apprenticeship with Hughes & Lancaster, Engineers, Acrefair, from where he left for the R.A.F. He served with the local A.R.P. unit, and the Home Guard, and was one of the earliest members of the Llangollen Flight of the A.T.C., in which he became a sergeant. He volunteered for the Air Crew with the R.A.F. (No.168961) at 17¼ years of age, but was not called up until March 1942, obtaining his "Wing" as a full trained Bomb Aimer and second pilot the following March. Later he was posted to 408 R.C.A.F. Squadron and commenced operational flights in October of 1943. He was reported missing in February 1944 on his 20th air operation, all of which had been carried out over Germany, including 12 attacks on Berlin.

Henry Cunliffe in uniform by his plane