LEST WE FORGET
Squadron Leader Richard Desmond BROWNE
Service No: 406025
Born: Claremont WA, 2 March 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 May 1940
Unit: No. 1 Squadron, Labuan
Died: Air Operations: (No. 1 Squadron Mosquito aircraft A52-510) Borneo, 8 August 1945, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Desmond Freeman Browne and Eileen Browne, of Nedlands, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 32, Labuan Memorial, Malaysia
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Remembered: Honour Avenues, Kings Park WA
Brother of Flying Officer Francis Valentine Browne (406637)
On 8 August 1945 Mosquitos of No. 1 Squadron strafed barges on the river at Kuching and barracks north of the river. During this operation, Squadron Leader Richard Desmond Browne (406025) (Pilot) and Flying Officer Richard Gregson (72527) (Navigator Wireless Operator) crashed over the target and were killed.
Extract from Odgers, G.J. (George James) (VX127783) Air War Against Japan 1943-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957 – Page 475
Of the seven aircraft, only six returned to base. A52-510 turned on its back and crashed into the Kuching River whilst over the target, possibly as a result of being hit from a nearby enemy gun position. Both crew members were killed.
Extract from Vincent, D. (David) Mosquito Monograph: A history of Mosquitoes in Australia and RAAF operations, David Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1982 – Page 128
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
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, 166/6/1290
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002
Vincent, D. (David) Mosquito Monograph: A history of Mosquitoes in Australia and RAAF operations, David Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1982
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990