Flying Officer Francis Valentine Browne
- Rank
- Flying Officer
- Appointment
- Royal Australian Air Force 1942 Mediterranean
- Service number
- 406637
- Unit
- 216 Squadron Royal Australian Force
- Cause of death
- Accidental
- Place of death
- Cairo, Egypt
- Date of death
- 4 November 1942
- Age
- 30
- Plaque number
- L99
- Co-located plaques
- L99A - SQNLDR Richard Browne
- Dedicated by
- His parents on 5 December 1948
- More information
Flying Officer Francis Valentine Browne 406637 (1912-1942, born Kalgoorlie, Western Australia) enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Perth, Western Australia, on 3 March 1941 and was trained as a Pilot at Cunderdin and Geraldton, Western Australia. He was sent to the Middle East under the Air Training Plan (known as the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) in Australia) and attached to the Royal Air Force (RAF), serving with No. 216 Squadron RAF. On 4 November 1942, he was killed when a No. 216 Squadron Hudson aircraft crashed at Khanka Aerodrome, Cairo, Egypt, as the result of the starboard engine failure, killing six of the seven on board, four outright, Flying Officer Browne and three RAF members, Flight Lieutenant Ronald Thomas Bradshaw 44308 of Sturry, Kent, England, Sergeant Max Otto Brown 618063 of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Flight Sergeant Donald Aird MacDonald 982281 of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and two from injuries, Leading Aircraftman Clive William Frederick Ironmonger 1151991 RAF of Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England, (died 4 November 1942) and Flying Officer Laurence Cuthbert Pyke MID 406792 RAAF of Victoria Park, Western Australia (died 5 November 1942) while Leading Aircraftman G M Paulger 1080090 RAF was slightly injured.
Flying Officer Browne’s official memorial is his grave in the Heliopolis War Cemetery, Cairo, where his headstone is inscribed with “Vale Val”. His Roll of Honour is Marble Bar, Western Australia.
His honour plaque in Kings Park was dedicated by his parents on 5 December 1948. He is the son of Desmond Browne (1884-1959) and Eileen Browne (nee Burkitt) (1883-1963) of Nedlands, Western Australia. His is the brother of Richard Desmond Browne 406025 (killed in action).
Flying Officer Browne is remembered with honour.
Note: The cause of death shown on the Honour Plaque is incorrect and should read “Accidental”.