Sgt David Stuart Brown
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot P-40E Kittyhawk A29-38
Prisoner Of War (POW) Executed Matupi Island

Background
David Stuart Brown was born December 9, 1916 in Castlemaine, Victoria. On February 28, 1941 he enlisted at South Yarra, Victoria into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with service number 401489. During 1942, assigned to No. 75 Squadron as a fighter pilot.

Mission History
On April 11, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloting P-40E Warhawk A29-38 on a fighter sweep over Lae. Over the north coast of New Guinea, intercepted by A6M2 Zeros and force landed or ditched into shallow water near the beach at Kwong Point on Salamaua.

Fate
Brown survived the landing unhurt but was immediately captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) and was transported to Lae then Rabaul for interrogation. On May 26, 1942 he was last seen alive by two American POWs Sanger E. Reed and Theron K. Lutz from B-26 40-1400 on the wharf at Rabaul. Brown was separated from them and never seen again. In fact, he was executed on Matupi Island and his remains were buried in a mass grave.

Recovery of Remains
During May to June 1947, Brown's remains were recovered from a mass grave on Matupi Island by S/L Keith Rundle. In 1950 he was identified and laid to rest at Bita Paka War Cemetery at grave H. C. 8.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - David Stuart Brown
CWGC - David Stuart Brown

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