BROWNE, Anthony John
643058
Sergeant (Air Gunner)
Anthony John BROWNE
RAF 215 Squadron
Killed on Active Duty on Tuesday 6th January 1942
Aged 22
"Arise, night is at hand"
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Anthony John Browne was born in Q3-1919 in Whitechapel, the son of James F and Mary K BROWNE, (née ADAMS). His father apparently died in 1930 and his mother in the 1939 register was in Stainsby Road, Stepney, a widow. Then it seems that she re-married to Arthur ROPER in 1941, so the contact in the burial register would have been his mother. The burial register gives a contact as c/o Mrs M.K.Roper, 29 East India Dock Road, London E14. Anthony was part of the first aircrew from 214 Squadron to be seconded to 215 Squadron on 22 December 1941. On 6th January 1942 at 10:00 hours, Vickers Wellington Mk 1C L7863 of 3 Group Training Flight took off from Newmarket Heath in Suffolk for gunnery detail training. As the aircraft climbed away after take-off, the port engine spluttered to a stop and the Wellington quickly lost height and crashed onto a nearby railway embankment before skidding into an adjacent building and bursting into flames. 2 crew members survived with injuries,the rest were killed. |
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