In a letter that I am researching, written by a soldier in the Royal Corps of Signals, attached to the 10th battalion, Rifle Brigade, I have come across this reference to a bomber crashing at Newmarket, on the 6th January 1942. "About 9.30 this morning we heard some big bangs at the back of our camp in a field by the railway lines. One of the bombers from the aerodrome crashed and burnt itself out." I have had a look on the C.W.G.C. website and have found that whilst there were 39 R.A.F. fatal casualties in England that day, only one of whom is buried in Newmarket. 643058 Sgt. Anthony John Browne. I appreciate that aircrew were sometimes buried in their home towns and not necessarily at the nearest cemetery to the crash site. Sgt Browne's C.W.G.C. entry gives no details of his Squadron or next of kin, so I am having a problem finding out if he was the only casualty, or if he was killed by the aircraft crash rather than in it. Can anyone please tell which squadron was based at Newmarket in January 1942, what type of aircraft they flew and if possible, any details regarding the crash? Thank you.
A/G Sgt. Anthony John Browne, 3 G.T. Flight, 643058, RAF was killed on 6th January 1942, when his aircraft, Vickers Wellington Mk 1C L7863 after take off from Newmarket quickly lost height and crashed onto a nearby railway embankment before skidding into an adjacent building and bursting into flames. All of the crew were killed, apart from 2 members who survived with injuries. See sources: Newmarket Heath - Newmarket Frederick Thomas Miniken | Great Bromley Best regards Finn Buch
I took these photographs over many years from 1992 onwards. These are along the Rowley Mile at Newmarket racecourse, Suffolk. RAF Newmarket - Wikipedia
Thank you for posting the pictures. The letter writer mentions the race course and the July Stands in several of the letters.
If anyone is interested I have two groups on Facebook. Raf Newmarket and SOE and Resistance. I live in Newmarket and have been researching the airfield for 30 years.
