LEST WE FORGET

Sergeant Laurence Ernest BROWN

Service No: 435439
Born: Quirindi NSW, 5 January 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 26 May 1943
Unit: No. 77 Squadron
Died: Air Operations (No. 77 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-901), Moemi area, Dutch New Guinea, 6 December 1944, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest John and Amy Estelle Brown; husband of Audrey Brown, of Kensington, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 7, Lae Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Muswellbrook War Memorial, Muswellbrook NSW

On 6 December 1944, Kittyhawk A29-901 failed to return to base from a bombing and strafing mission. The aircraft was seen to flick at approximately 400 feet and to dive straight into the sea fifty yards off shore and south east of the Warren airstrip, Moemi area. Two other aircraft in the formation searched the area with no result and it was considered possible that the aircraft was hit by small arms fire from the ground.

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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/6/831; A9845, 168
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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