Flying Officer R Browne

The Dreaded Telegram

The Air Ministry Telegram Major Theo Browne, and his wife received in Pretoria advising their 20-year-old son Richard had lost his life in a flying accident on September 7th, 1943, would not have mentioned the 14 No 81 “OTU” fatalities in less than two weeks. A Whitley hit the Control Tower during night flying training on August 26th killing the pilot, bomb aimer, injuring three crew members and three airmen on the ground including the station commanding officer. Seven days later a Whitley crashed during bombing exercise killing all 5 crew, five days after that, a Whitley taking off for night flying training hit the Control Tower, killing Flying Officer RW Browne, 3 crew, 2 WAAF’s and an airman, seriously injuring two other WAAF’s and a crew member. 24