LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Richard HARDING-BROWNE
Flying Officer Richard Harding BROWNE
Service No: 407523
Born: Brighton SA, 13 January 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 November 1940
Unit: No. 82 Squadron (RAF), RAF Bodney, Norfolk
Died: Air Operations (No. 82 Squadron Blenheim aircraft V6378), North Sea, 15 January 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Clifford and Bessie Eirlin Harding-Browne, of Adelaide, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 110, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
The SA Memorial lists Flying Officer Harding-Browne twice as HARDING-BROWNE R and as BROWNE R H.
Blenheim V6378 of No. 82 Squadron was detailed to intrude over Soesterberk aerodrome, Netherlands, on 15 January 1942. The aircraft took off at 1812 hours when the weather was good, but it rapidly deteriorated after take off. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was presumed that the aircraft was lost over the North Sea
The crew members of V6378 were:
Pilot Officer Edwin William Maitland Garstin (106967) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Richard Harding-Browne (407523) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer William George Scarlett (106536) (RAFVR) (Observer)
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, 163/24/209