The annual memorial service to remember the airman who sacrificed his own life to save others in Nantwich, took place yesterday, writes Jonathan White.
First Lieutenant Arthur Leslie Brown, of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF), died aged 23 when flying a Republic Thunderbolt type P-47D.
It plunged into soft ground on the banks of the River Weaver, behind houses in Shrewbridge Road on January 14 1944.
It’s believed the young pilot steered his plane away from the town to avoid loss of life as he was crashing.
The inscription on the surface of his memorial tablet reads:
HERE LIES 1ST LIEUTENANT / ARTHUR L. BROWN / USAAF / AGED 23 YEARS / OF NEW YORK / WHO CRASHED / IN HIS THUNDERBOLT / TO AVOID THIS TOWN / JAN 14TH 1944 / WITH SYMPATHY AND RESPECT
The memorial service was led by Rector of St Mary’s Church Nantwich Rev Dr Mark Hart, and included standard bearers, the Last Post, a one minute’s silence, Reveille, and the laying of wreaths.
Wreaths were laid by Nantwich & District Branch of the Royal British Legion, Royal Air Forces Association, 100 (Nantwich) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets, and Nantwich Town Council (two wreaths).
A spokesman for Nantwich & District Branch of the Royal British Legion (Nantwich RBL) said: “This service had previously been held on Remembrance Sunday.
“But of late, it was felt Lt Arthur Brown’s remembrance deserved to be honoured on a day closer to his death.
“So, the second Sunday every January will now mark the sacrifice he made, by guiding his stricken aircraft away from a populated area of Nantwich.”
For further information relating to Nantwich RBL, email [email protected] or [email protected]
(Images courtesy of Jonathan White)
Hi. I collect stories of WW2 airforces and then build the model and tell the story of the aircraft and the crew who flew in them. I came across this story today and I would really like to add this story to my collection.
I have already built several models of aircraft and told the stories of the crew which through my displays keeps the history and more importantly the memory of the airman of WW2 alive.
I have through my research found the aircraft serial number and build number of the aircraft. What I am now looking for is the Alpha code, or Squadron identity code, and aircraft letter. This is usually displayed as follows: QP B with the USAAF Star with bar between the two. QP being the Squadron Code and B the aircraft identifier.
I would very much appreciate any help you can give to enable me to preoduce as accreate a model and story I can give.
The town owes a great deal to your hero relative, that is why this site is cherished and looked after by locals today, he is in safe hands
The family appreciates your continued remembrance of my cousin, Lt Arthur Leslie Brown. My dad, his uncle, used to camp and fish with him as a youngster in the late 1930’s, of which I have several pictures. Since I was born in 1945 I never met him, but feel close to him through his parents and sister.