Page 28 - May 2019

THE BEAUFIGHTER TEAM
Historical Alan Brown (AWM: 2017.520.1.3922/ Australian THE BEAUFIGHTER TEAM
THE BEAUFIGHTER

TEAM
Institute of Professional Photography)
THE BEAUFIGHTER TEAM

A
routine WWII night fighter
RIGHT:
Pilot Officer
Brothers in Arms
mission suddenly found
Alan Brown
21-year-old Pilot Officer
and Navigator
Alan Brown and 23-year-
Vic “Possum”
old Navigator Vic “Possum” Whitfield
Whitfield.
BELOW:
matte-black Beaufighter engaged a
Alan and his committed to a deadly duel as their
wife Edna. German flak train they spotted.
With their night fighter’s limited
When two ‘Colonials’ joined the Royal Air Force, a
When two ‘Colonials’ joined the Royal Air Force, a life-long
ammunition loading, only short
friendship was forged and a stealth duo took to the night skies.
life-long friendship was forged and a stealth duo
bursts of .303 rounds from its six
Browning machine guns were possible,
took to the night skies. Wayne Brown
interspersed with 20mm cannon
fire from the quad Hispano Mk 3s.
Wayne Brown Meanwhile, the Germans fired heavy
streams of colourful 20mm tracered
A routine WWII night fighter mission projectiles from their more generous
damage and have the aircraft back to
suddenly found 21-year-old Pilot Officer reserves in response.
operational status as soon as possible.
Reeling from multiple strikes,
Alan Brown and 23-yearold Navigator the damaged “Beau” beat a hasty
Both German and Japanese foes
dubbed the Beaufighter
Vic “Possum” Whitfield committed to withdrawal, hoping its twin Hercules
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“Whispering Death” for its ability to
a deadly duel as their matte-black engines were still capable of powering
suddenly arrive on the scene, creating
Beaufighter engaged a German flak it back to base. After a long, anxious
train they spotted. flight they finally landed safely.
havoc.
With their night fighter’s limited The ever-reliable ground crew had
Dodging enemy flak and cannon fire
ammunition loading, only short to patch over 20 sizeable holes, check
was a very different scenario to Alan
for serious structural damage and have
bursts of .303 rounds from its six the aircraft back to operational status
Brown’s pre-war vocation – picking
Browning machine guns were possible, as soon as possible. Both German and
apples on the family orchard near
interspersed with 20mm cannon fire Japanese foes dubbed the Beaufighter
Bapaume in South East Queensland.
from the quad Hispano Mk 3s. “Whispering Death” for its ability to
The nine-year-old first became
Meanwhile, the Germans fired heavy suddenly arrive on the scene, apples on the family orchard near Having completed 100 missions,
interested in planes and flying as
streams of colourful 20mm tracered creating havoc. Bapaume in South East Queensland. he was offered two choices – do
he climbed a tall tree to prolong the
another 100 or go home. Say no
The nine-year-old first became
Dodging enemy flak and cannon fire
projectiles from their more generous was a very different scenario to Alan interested more! It took two weeks to get from
magical sight of a buzzing Tiger Moth in planes and flying as he
reserves in response. Brown’s pre-war vocation – picking climbed a tall tree to prolong the Athens to Bombay, via stopovers at El EDITION 05 2018 RSLQLD.ORG 31
as it barnstormed in the district.
school, aged 12, the fruit block needed
Reeling from multiple strikes, the When Alan’s father, “Pop” Brown Adem, Cairo, Callia (the Dead Sea),
magical sight of a buzzing Tiger Moth
as it barnstormed in the district.
Habbinyah, Basrah, Bahrein, Dubai,
damaged “Beau” beat a hasty purchased an Astor radio attention, as did his relationship with
Jiwan and Karachi.
When Alan’s father, “Pop” Brown
withdrawal, hoping its for 10 pounds, with lifelong partner, Edna Chappell. Still
Just missing the Liberty ship from
purchased an Astor radio for 10 pounds,
twin Hercules engines part of the deal inseparable at 95, they met as country
with part of the deal including a five-
Bombay, Alan was seconded into the
were still capable of including a neighbours living only 12 miles from
minute joy flight in a Tiger Moth, Alan
military postal system for six weeks
powering it back five minute each other. until the next sailing. After two
really became hooked on flying!
to base. After a joy flight Alan’s service during WWII was the
weeks at sea, he arrived in Melbourne
But when Alan finished school, aged
12, the fruit block needed attention,
and jumped on a northbound train,
long, anxious in a Tiger only time they were apart. Within a week
alighting at Stanthorpe in Queensland.
as did his relationship with life-
flight they finally Moth, of returning home they were married,
He was finally home after a three-and-
long partner, Edna Chappell. Still
landed safely. Alan with Alan in full dress uniform.
a-half-year hiatus.
inseparable at 95, they met as country
The ever- really Having completed 100 missions, he
neighbours living only 12 miles from
Signing up in 1941, 19-year-old
reliable ground bec am e was offered two choices – do another
each other.
Alan trained first in long-admired
Alan’s service during WWII was the
crew had to hooked on 100 or go home. Say no more! It took two
Tiger Moths at Narromine in New
weeks to get from Athens to Bombay,
pat c h ov er 20 flying! only time they were apart. Within a South Wales. Following this, he
week of returning home they were
flew Ansons in Alberta, Canada,
sizeable holes, check Bu t when via stopovers at El Adem, Cairo, Callia
then back to Moths and Ansons at
married, with Alan in full
for serious structural Alan finished (the Dead Sea), Habbinyah, Basrah,
Wiltshire, England, as a sergeant,
dress uniform.
Bahrein, Dubai, Jiwan and Karachi.
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