Brown, Alan Francis
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Alan Francis |
Surname | Brown |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Francis Herbert and Willa Winnifred Brown, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV989 |
Markings | AL-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. B. Row D. Grave 3. |
Epitaph | COME UNTO ME ALL THAT TRAVAIL AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL REFRESH YOU ST. MATT. 11.28 |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 136 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/25827 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Brown Esker, Manitoba; A ridge running along the souther shore of Swampy Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Esker |
Memorial Text |
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Miscellaneous Information
Incredibly, F/O Swordy the Wireless Operator, managed to bale out and landed safely |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-05-1944 |
End Date | 23-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Le Mans- to bomb railway installations. 133 aircraft, 3 Halifaxes Lost (2.3%). Bombing was accurate with much damage caused to the railways and, as a 'bonus' to the nearby Gnome and Rhone factory. Casualties were mercifully light. |
Reason for Loss | Presumed to have stalled while climbing away from the airfield. Spun and crashed SW of Snape. A fire engine attended the scene just as the bomb load exploded, injuring all the tender's crew |