BROWNING, Cyril Reginald Arthur


165962, Flying Officer, Cyril Reginald Arthur BROWNING
Aged 22


48 Squadron, R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve
Missing on Tuesday, 23rd October 1945


"Forte et Fidele" - By Strength and Faithfulness.



Cyril Reginald Arthur BROWNING was born in 1923 (Bury St.Edmunds Q4:1923 4A:1515), son of Reginald Alfred James and Mabel F BROWNING (née PRYKE). later of High Wycombe, Bucks

In the 1939 register, possibly his mother Mabel F [16-1-1900], married and his brother Eric J [10-2-1926] who were at 41 Queen's Road, Bury St Edmunds. Father not found, possibly in Armed Forces.(he did not die until 1963). There are two closed records, possibly sister Renee [1921] is one.



48 Squadron was equipped with Dakotas (DC-3) in February 1944 and became a transport squadron. Took part in the D-Day invasion. Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine. It was then sent to Patenga, Bengal, ready for the invasion of Malaya which was abandoned on the Japanese surrender.

Gazette 31/10/1944 11 Aug 1944 LAC 1804489 commissioned as Pilot Officer (165962)

On 23rd October 1945 this appears to be some of the occupants of a missing aircraft, but so far this aircraft has not been identified but believed to be Douglas Dakota IV ser no KJ957 of 48 Squadron. This aircraft flew into cumulonimbus cloud at 14,000 feet and disappeared, believed to have broken up. Approx position given as 37 km E of Chiringa, (in what is now Bangladesh). There were 14 aboard, so 11 or 12 were passengers:-
Flying Officer Cyril Reginald Arthur BROWNING (165962)
Flight Sergeant Stanley Wilfred MARTIN (1239540)
Flying Officer Edward Albert SMITH (179337)
Flight Sergeant Joseph THURSFIELD (1071768)
Flight Lieutenant Norman Charles TRIGG (143031)
Flight Lieutenant Herbert WROE (119828)
According to CWGC these were all 48 Squadron personnel, all died the same day and are named on the Singapore Memorial.







photo from asiawargraves.com

Cyril Browning is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, column 447

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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