Ashtead War Memorials - WWII - Wg Cdr Peter Brooker DSO* DFC*

source

Fighter Leader School RAF Milfield
The FLS Officer Commanding. Armament Wing, Wg Cdr REP Brooker DFC
with thanks to Alan Evans http://www.milfield.org.uk/

Richard Edgar Peter Brooker. Born Chessington, Surrey, 1918, joined the Royal Air Force on a direct commission in April 1937.

On the 17 July 37 he was posted to 9 FTS, Hullavington, Wiltshire and on the 19 Feb 1938 was posted to 56 Sqd Royal Air Force, North Weald, Essex.

Promoted to Pilot Officer 5 April 38. Promoted to Flying Officer 5 January 40. He claimed a Ju 87 destroyed on the 13 July 40 and a Do 17 on the 21 August 40; in this engagement he was hit by return fire and was slightly injured in the forced landing at Flowton Brook, Bramford, Suffolk. His Hurricane P3153 was burned out.

Late summer 1940, posted to Central Gunnery School, Sutton Bridge as an instructor. Promoted to Fl Lt 5 January 41 April 1941.

Posted to command No 1 Sqd Royal Air Force Kenley, Surrey, 10 May 41. He shot down an He 111 at night, also attacking three more bombers on the same sortie. Awarded DFC 30 May 41.

3 Nov 41. Posted to the Far East, Kallang, 13 Dec 41. He took command of 232 Sqd after the CO was killed on 20 January 42 at Royal Air Force Seletar Singapore. On 1 February 42 the squadron withdrew to Palembang, Sumatra. On 25 Feb 42, 232 Sqd evacuated to Java, the remnants of 242 Squadron were absorbed into 232 squadron at Tajililitan, Java.

Promoted to Sqd Ldr 1 March 42. On 5 March 42 some 7,000 Royal Air Force personnel moved from Poerwokerta to the port of Tajilitjap, South Java for ship transit to Adelaide, where they arrived on the 15 March 42.

After the last Hurricane was destroyed on Java, S/L Brooker and a number of pilots flew in a Lodestar to Australia, 27 March 42.

He was awarded the bar to his DFC. Personnel Management Agency, Royal Air Force Innsworth, Gloucestershire confirm that as of 1 April 42 Sqd Ldr REP Brooker, Special Duties List - to command 77 Squadron Australia on loan to Royal Australian Air Force.

New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Archives show 18 Jun 42 he disembarked New Zealand. Posted to Masterton. Air Headquarters.
On 19 Jun 42 - Special Duties List - flying on loan to Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Also 18 Jun 42 - Special Duties List - flying on loan to Royal New Zealand Air Force, where he is reported as Officer Commanding. 14 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force.

July 1942-Feb 1943, Officer Commanding 14 Squadron. Royal New Zealand Air Force, Masterton, New Zealand, flying Kittyhawks. He formed this squadron from the survivors of 488 Sqd Royal New Zealand Air Force, who also fought on Singapore, Sumatra and Java, and who had flown Buffaloes and then Hurricanes.

15 Feb 43 posted to Whenuapai, Air Headquarters.

On his return to the UK on 10 April 1943 and with seven and a half enemy aircraft shot down, he was posted to command No 1 SLAIS at Milfield, as Wing Commander Flying, then posted across the airfield as temporary Officer Commanding 59 OTU Milfield, then joining FLS as a Staff Instructor, OC Armament Wing.

May 44 posted Wing Leader 123 Wing, 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, Royal Air Force Thorney Island, Hampshire (198 and 609 Squadrons) and led the Wing's Typhoons through the D-Day landings.

1 December 44. Awarded the DSO, posted Wing Leader 122 Wing, 83 Group, 2nd TAF, at Volkel (airfield B80), Holland.

While at SLAIS he met Sqd Ldr John Wray, who was attending as a course member, their paths were to cross again later and the Milfield connection came into play again when John Wray became Wing Commander Flying of 56 OTU. Having relieved Wg Cdr John Wray at Volkel, Holland, as Wing Leader of 122 Wing, 2nd TAF, his Wing was comprised of five Squadrons, Nos 3, 56, 80, 274 and 486.

In the six months from the Normandy landings, 6 June 44, the Wing lost 123 pilots and in the first month of 1945 they lost 47 pilots.

It was from Hopsten (B112) that Wg Cdr Brooker took off, leading a section of Tempests of 80 Squadron, on the 16th of April 45 to patrol the Hanover - Osnabruck sector with the attack priority, rail traffic.

After attacking a train near Neuruppen, and while the section were re-forming his No 2 advised him that there was smoke coming from his radiator, followed by flames seen in his cockpit. The Wg Cdr was seen to be trying to open the canopy before the aircraft turned over and plunged to the ground. His No 2, Sgt WFTurner, was at the same time shot down by FW 190s both aircraft crashing and burning close by the autobahn at Wittenberge.

Wg Cdr Brooker was awarded his second DSO sometime after this, the award dated the day before his death.Wing Commander REP Brooker DSO and bar, DFC and bar is remembered on the RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Panel 264.

Alan Evans adds: New Zealand Defence Force personnel records gave W/C Brooker`s next of kin as: Mrs K Brooker, Little Hunstan, Ashstead, Surrey.

CWGC record: http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1530511
He is the only Wg Cdr Peter Brooker DSO* DFC* on CWGC.

page created 5 Feb 2009
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