37717 Flt Lt A M Brown, RAF - PRU/PoW

[Errol Martyn]

37717 Flt Lt Anthony Brown became a PoW by 7 Oct 41.

The LG records him being awarded the DFC in Sep 41 for service with 2PRU.

Does anyone know the date/details he FTR and became a PoW (presumably on PR sortie c.Sep-Oct 41?).

Thanks in advance for any assistance offered.

Errol

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Errol

F/L A.M. Brown

27 Sep 41: Awarded DFC

02 Oct 41: Recce of Bengazi in Hurricane W9116, failed to return

Source: ORB

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Errol Martyn]

Thanks muchly for this prompt response, Andy.

Checking the now rather ancient 'Fighters Over the Desert', by Shores, et al, I found the following:

Another Hurricane was lost during the day, when an unarmed, pale blue Mark I (PR) of 2 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit was lost over Benghazi. This is believed to have fallen to the Italians, who claimed a Hurricane forced down, the pilot being captured.

The paragraph in the book with this entry is headed 3 October 1941 but the text suggests that it actually describes the events of 30 Sep 41, whereas Air-Britain serials confirms your 2 Oct 41 date for the PRU loss and a Sgt Stirrat killed 'same day' actually died on the 4th according to the CWGC!

I'll go with the ORB and Air-Britain!

Errol

[Andy Fletcher]

The paragraph in the book with this entry is headed 3 October 1941 but the text suggests that it actually describes the events of 30 Sep 41, whereas Air-Britain serials confirms your 2 Oct 41 date for the PRU loss and a Sgt Stirrat killed 'same day' actually died on the 4th according to the CWGC!

I'll go with the ORB and Air-Britain!

Errol

Hi Errol,

Just had a quick look through the ORB for October and can find no mention of a Sgt Stirrat anywhere. It appears that all pilots were officers at this time.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello All,

AUS404186 Sgt (Pilot) Ian Harper STIRRAT RAAF (of No.112 Sqn.), was killed in action on 3-10-1941. His A705 (NAA A705 163/163/231 pp.37,41 & 66 of 93) confirms this fact.

The original casualty signal, sent from ME.HQ. did not quote a date of death. The staff at the DPS misread the signal and took the despatch date as the date of death. This error was repeated in Death Certificates and later correspondence with various agencies. The AWM,CWGC & NAA have perpetuated this fallacy.

Fighters Over the Desert is now forty-years-old. The documents that Shores used in
its preparation are even older! That said, it is badly in need of an update.

See also:
Shark Squadron:The History of No.112 Squadron R.F.C.,R.A.F. 1917-1975.
Brown,Robin A.
Manchester:Crecy,1994
pp.41,228.241,247 & 263.

Col.

[Andy Fletcher]

My appologies, I misread the post and thought Stirrat was also with 2 PRU.