Arthur George Brooks – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 626 Squadron

Sergeant Arthur George Brooks – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 626 Squadron

Birth and Family Background

Arthur George Brooks was born in 1924 at Swansea, the son of Alfred George Brooks and Margaret Beynon, who had married in the town in 1920. He grew up within a Swansea family rooted in the industrial and maritime life of the area, typical of the many households whose sons would later serve in the Second World War. His early years were shaped by the close‑knit communities of the town and the steady rhythms of working‑class life in interwar Swansea.

Military Service

RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire

Arthur served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, holding the rank of Sergeant with No. 626 Squadron, a unit operating from RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire. As a member of a Lancaster bomber crew, he undertook the demanding duties of night operations with Bomber Command, whose crews faced some of the most hazardous conditions of the war. His role placed him among the thousands of young airmen who carried out long‑range bombing missions over occupied Europe, often in the face of formidable enemy defences.

The Loss of Sergeant Brooks

Arthur lost his life on 4 May 1944 during one of Bomber Command’s most complex and dangerous operations — the major raid on the German‑occupied barracks and training grounds at Mailly‑le‑Camp. On the night of 3–4 May 1944, more than 340 Lancasters were dispatched, operating under strict timing and marking instructions intended to ensure a concentrated and effective attack. However, the operation was hampered by severe communication difficulties. Radio interference and the failure of the Master Bomber’s instructions to reach all aircraft caused many crews to orbit the target area for extended periods, waiting for the order to bomb. This delay proved disastrous, as German night‑fighter units were able to converge on the circling bombers.

Lancaster I

Lancaster I ND553 of No. 626 Squadron, carrying Sergeant Brooks, was among the aircraft caught in this deadly situation. Having taken off from RAF Wickenby, the crew joined the main bomber stream as it crossed the Channel. As the force approached Mailly‑le‑Camp, the confusion in the attack plan left many Lancasters flying predictable holding patterns, making them highly vulnerable to interception. German night‑fighters, guided by ground controllers and aided by clear skies, penetrated the bomber stream and launched a series of fierce and sustained attacks.

At some point during this phase of the operation, ND553 came under attack and was shot down over France, crashing at Breuvery‑sur‑Coole, approximately twelve miles north of the intended target. Eyewitness accounts from the region later described aircraft falling in flames during the raid, and the scattered crash sites across the countryside testify to the intensity of the night‑fighter assault. The loss of ND553 was almost certainly the result of one of these sudden and overwhelming attacks, which often left crews with little or no opportunity to send distress signals or attempt evasive manoeuvres before their aircraft was fatally damaged.

The Mailly‑le‑Camp raid, though ultimately successful in destroying much of the German camp, came at a heavy cost. Bomber Command lost 42 Lancasters that night — one of the highest single‑operation losses of the war — with hundreds of airmen killed or missing. The tragedy of ND553 forms part of this wider narrative of bravery, confusion, and sacrifice, reflecting the perilous nature of night bombing operations in the months leading up to D‑Day.

Commemoration

Arthur George Brooks
Runnymede Memorial, Egham, Surrey credit - fidnagrave

With no known grave, Sergeant Arthur George Brooks is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Egham, Surrey, which honours airmen lost without a known resting place. His name stands among those of thousands of young men whose lives were claimed in the air war over Europe, many of whom were never recovered.

The Crew

The other members of the crew who lost their lives were Pilot Officer David Stuart Jackson, buried at Breuvery‑sur‑Coole Churchyard; Pilot Officer John Martin Burns Liebscher, commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial; Pilot Officer Ross Edward Macfarlane, buried at Breuvery‑sur‑Coole Churchyard; Pilot Officer Horace Albert Riddle, commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial; Sergeant James Arthur Ivan Sutton, commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial; and Pilot Officer Richard Herbert Watts, also commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Legacy

Sergeant Arthur George Brooks is remembered today as one of the many young airmen whose service and sacrifice formed part of the wider struggle for the liberation of Europe. His loss, together with that of his crew, reflects the immense dangers faced by Bomber Command and the courage required of those who flew night after night into hostile skies. His name on the Runnymede Memorial ensures that his story endures, preserved among the collective memory of those who gave their lives in the service of their country.