Laid to rest, RAF hero missing in action for 73yrs
HE disappeared more than 70 years ago when his aircraft was downed on a mission over war-torn Europe.
Flight Sergeant Ernest Logan Brown of Edinburgh was 27 and one of seven crew members on the Halifax bomber that crashed in Albania in 1944.
The men were presumed dead, but nothing was ever known of their fate after communication with the plane was lost. It was not until last year that the wreckage was discovered following wildfires – and the remains of the Second World War airmen were found.
On Wednesday, a burial service was held to honour the former police constable and his comrades. In moving scenes, family and fellow airmen paid their respects at Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery in Albania’s capital.
Tracey Bowers, from the Ministry of Defence, said: ‘It has been a privilege to organise this service and to reflect on the bravery of these seven young men. All were killed carrying out a mission supporting members of the Special Operations Executive [SOE].
‘Today, we respect their commitment to duty and join with their families in honouring their sacrifice.’
The service was led by RAF chaplain the Rev Jonathan Stewart and was attended by the UK’s ambassador to Albania, Duncan Norman, as well as local dignitaries.
Mr Stewart said: ‘It is a real privilege for me to be involved, laying to rest members of this RAF crew who undertook such an important mission to help bring us the freedom that we all enjoy today.
‘Even though many years have passed, this is a poignant moment for all concerned.’
On the morning of October 29, 1944, the Halifax bomber took off from Brindisi in Italy to carry out a supply-drop, codenamed Operation Tinker, to the SOE in Albania. After communication was severed, Special Operations records noted: ‘Nothing further was heard from this aircraft and must be presumed lost.
‘It was seen to drop its load on the target.’
Eleni Kakkava of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) said: ‘We are deeply moved to be able to lay members of the crew to rest and mark their grave with a CWGC headstone.
‘We remember their sacrifice and will care for their graves and their memory with dedication, for ever.