FROM AN ARTICLE IN MOOSEJAW TIMES dated June 19, 1942
Flip of a Coin Decided Which Gunner Went
Edmonton Boy Won The Toss and He Went on Raid on France April 14, 1942
The flip of a coin decided which of two air gunners made a trip over France
from which the “winner” did not return, as a result of which he is listed as
lost during air operations on April 14, 1942.
During May the Times-Herald received a letter from the mother of the missing
airman in which she stated that she was anxious to identify a friend of the boy
who was known as “Buck” Brown and who served in the same Squadron. The new article
brought a quick reply from Mrs. Brown of 371 Home Street West, Moose Jaw, mother
of “Buck” Brown and the anxious mother in Edmonton was appraised of the name she
sought.
On Friday the Times-herald received a letter from Mrs. Alex McMillan, of Edmonton,
mother of the boy who won the toss, in which she states that she received a letter
from Mrs. Brown and goes on to say how it came about; “They were a gunner short for
that trip over France. Her son and mine volunteered and they tossed a coin as only
one could go. My son won and away he went. So we are waiting to see whether he won or not.”
WO C P L Brown was not to return:
“Warrant Officer 1 (No. 419 Moose Squadron RCAF wireless air gunner) Clayton Penrose Lindon Brown
(b.1920) of Moose Jaw was KIA July 7 1942 and is buried at Upavon church cemetery, Wiltshire, England.
On return from a mine laying operation to Lorient, France, in poor visibility, Brown's Wellington
clipped some treetops and crashed into a hillside. He was the son of Norman Stuart and Anna May (Hill) Brown
who homesteaded SE18-9-8-W3 northeast of Hazenmore, farmed at Marquis from 1928 where Clayton
attended Westlake school, and moved to Moose Jaw in 1933. Clayton was working as a stenographer
when he enlisted (P35379) in the Ordnance corps at Regina on the outbreak of the war, transferring
to the RCAF less than a year later.”