T/Sgt. Arthur Edward Brittain
Radio Operator
545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group
Missing in Action
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S/Sgt. Walter Parkins (Waist Gunner), S/Sgt. Arthur Brittain (Radio Operator), and Sgt. Win Smalley (Ball Turret Gunner). All 3 men remain missing in action and unaccounted for to this day. | Courtesy of Quentin Bland and 384thBombGroup.com⇗
Arthur Edward Brittain was born on February 1, 1924 in South Carolina, the only child of Thomas and Fannie Brittain.
Details of his early life are unknown at this time, but it is known that prior to the war he was living in Prince George's County, Maryland and worked in architechture.
On March 11, 1943, Brittain was assigned to the 545th Bomb Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group, and was an original crewmember, one of the first to be assigned to the Group.
His original crewmates were:
2nd Lt. Raymond Walter Manning (Pilot)
2nd Lt. Norman Alton Gauntt (Co-pilot)
2nd Lt. R O Henley Jr (Navigator)
2nd Lt. Warren Blodgett Dillon (Bombardier)
S/SGT. Robert Phillip Goldman (Radio Operator / Gunner)
S/SGT. Paul Leon Overbaugh (Engineer / Top Turret Gunner)
S/SGT. Robert John Quaranta (Tail Gunner)
S/SGT. Howard Francis Avey (Waist Gunner)
S/SGT. Joseph P Williams (Waist Gunner)
On April 17, 1943, Brittain was promoted from staff sergeant to techncial sergeant. He flew six combat missions, and one aborted mission.
On August 12, 1943, T/Sgt. Brittain served as radio operator on The Inferno, on a mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. For an unknown reason, the aircraft was seen to slip away from the formation, and once they were isolated, they were attacked by several enemy fighters.
The pilot, Capt. Richard Thompson Carrington, deliberately turned the aircraft to face the enemy fighters, and pulled the nose up so that the ball turret gunner could fire at them. An intense fire ensued in the bomb bay, and with the aircraft now doomed, the order was given to bail out.
The Inferno crashed in Erfstadt, near Liblar, Germany.
2Lt. Jesse Hausenfluck, who was also flying in the low squadron that day and witnessed the event, described the actions of The Inferno crew as “one of the most outstanding feats of personal bravery I have ever witnessed. [The pilot] did not swerve from his course. All guns which were available and could be brought to bear on the fighters were brought to bear.”
It was on this mission that T/Sgt. Brittain, and his crewmates, Sgt. Win Richard Smalley (Ball Turret Gunner), S/Sgt. Floyd Montell Wingate (Waist Gunner), and S/Sgt. Walter Carl Parkins (Tail Gunner) were all reported missing in action, and they remain unaccounted for to this day. It is unknown what their exact causes of death were, whether it was from the fire, or the enemy fighter attacks.
The rest of the crew were captured and taken as prisoners of war:
Capt. Richard Thompson Carrington Jr. (Pilot)
2nd Lt. Harvey Charles Esty (Co-Pilot)
1st Lt. Robin Everett Taber (Navigator)
Capt. Michael Hayes Smithwick (Bombardier)
T/Sgt. Phillip Elbert Schmidlapp (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner)
S/Sgt. Joseph Anton Scholand (Waist Gunner)
T/Sgt. Brittain was only 19 years old. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery.
Arthur Edward Brittain is one of Henley's Heroes, and he is not forgotten.
Information courtesy of 384thBombGroup.com⇗ and Find a Grave⇗
Back Row (Left to Right): Lt. Harvey C. Esty (Co-Pilot); Lt. Richard T. Carrington Jr. (Pilot); Lt Michael H. Smithwick (Bombardier); Lt Robin Everett Taber (Navigator).
Front Row (Left to Right): S/Sgt. Walter C. Parkins (Tail Gunner); S/Sgt. Joseph A. Scholand (Waist Gunner); T/Sgt. Arthur E. Brittain (Radio Operator); S/Sgt. Floyd M. Wingate (Waist Gunner); S/Sgt. Win R. Smalley (Ball Turret Gunner); T/Sgt Phillip E. Schmidlapp (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner) | Courtesy of 384thBombGroup.com⇗
The Inferno | Courtesy of 384thBombGroup.com⇗
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