LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Desmond James DRAKE-BROCKMAN
Service No: 406553
Born: Toodyay WA, 27 May 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 February 1941
Unit: No. 70 Operational Training Unit (RAF), Nakuru, Kenya
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 70 Operational Training Unit Blenheim aircraft NR6223), Nairobi, 5 June 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Nairobi (Forest Road) Cemetery, Kenya
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert James Drake-Brockman and Rose Ita Drake-Brockman, of Toodyay, Western Australia
Roll of Honour: Toodyay WA
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
On the 5th June 1942, Blenheim NR6223 took off on a training flight to Nairobi, and crashed at approximately 1630 hours at Bagathi near Nairobi, Kenya. All the crew were killed. Instructions were given to the crew that the aircraft was to return if difficulties were encountered due to cloud. On approaching Nairobi the aircraft ran into a heavy cloud formation, but instead of returning an attempt was made to find Nairobi. The aircraft descended through cloud with the undercarriage lowered and at reduced speed, but it struck the ground with considerable force.
The crew members of NR6223 were:
Sergeant Desmond James Drake-Brockman (406533) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Lincoln Joseph Hands (406197) (Observer)
Sergeant Frederick Anthony Paul (403227) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/103/198
Bibliography:
Gaston, Bruce DFC (406646), Harry Horner DFC OAM (406595), Raymond Storer (406666) (Editors), Aircrew for the Duration: of and by members of RAAF EATS Courses 10, 11, 12 & 13, Gaston Horner and Storer, Nedlands WA, 1990