Brown, Walter Edward
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Walter Edward |
Surname | Brown |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 16-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Walter Alfred and Mabel Brown, of Hanworth, Middlesex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND478 |
Markings | OF-Q |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Denmark |
Burial/Memorial Place | Faaborg New Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 37. |
Epitaph | A CHAIR IS VACANT IN OUR HOME: A VOICE WE LOVED TO HEAR IS NOW FOR EVER STILLED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 137 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1389618 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | On the NW bank of Sundet, Fåborg, Fyn Islands Provincer |
Country | Denmark |
Memorial Type | Inscribed memorial stone |
Memorial Text | Til minde om 5 all flyvere der fandt døden her paa sundets bløde enge 15/2/1944. Æret være deres minde |
Location | Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window remembering 97 Sqn in the Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/768/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 15-02-1944 |
End Date | 16-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Bourn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (63% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 891 aircraft- the largest raid on Berlin and in fact the largest 'non-1000' raid of the war. The bomb tonnage dropped was also a record at 2642 tons. 43 aircraft losses (4.8%). The bomber stream was tracked by the German controllers as soon as it left the English coast but a swing to the north over Denmark for the approach was effective as it was out of the range of many fighters. The controller ordered that Berlin be kept free of fighters to allow the flak batteries the full range of altitudes but many ignored the order and attacked bombers over the target. Berlin was cloud covered but the bombing was reasonably concentrated, although some bombs fell on outlying towns and villages. Damage was extensive with over 1000 houses and 526 temporary accommodation barracks destroyed. Some of the most important war industries were hit and 320 people were killed. The relatively low death toll is a reflection of the fact that large-scale evacuations had taken place by now. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter from 21000' and crashed near Faborg, Denmark |