THE BRAUND STORY
Book cover of the new book by Van Wilson
In 2017 Sally Palmer contacted Van Wilson of 77 Squadron Association offering a collection of material relating to John and Paul Braund, twin brothers and pilots with 77 Squadron, who were both tragically killed in 1945, aged only 22.
This unique and moving collection contains the twins’ letters, documents, flight log books, photographs, caps and medals. We at the Association decided to pass the collection on to the Yorkshire Air Museum archive where it will remain for posterity. But Van Wilson, having read the documents and letters, decided that the story should be told to a much wider public. The letters from the twins to their parents are particularly poignant. They outline the men’s experiences from early Royal Air Force training in the USA, followed by instructing in Texas. Details about their time in the USA enabled their parents to find out more about what was happening. The close relationship they shared is evident from their comments and private jokes in the letters.
The twins moved to more intensive training in the UK and finally to 77 Squadron, then based at Full Sutton, in November 1944. They took part in a number of missions and became very popular with their comrades on the squadron. The twins were tragically killed within a month of each other in January and February 1945. Paul’s body, like those of his crew, was never found and their names are recorded on the Runnymede Memorial. John’s body was washed ashore near a small town in Denmark and was given a full military funeral by the resistance movement and local clergy, despite official orders against this. After the war, Paul’s name was also added to his brother’s grave, and their parents’ ashes were later buried in the same place.
William and Greta Braund had no other children but were close to their niece Margaret Braund. Her god-daughter Sally Palmer inherited the twins’ collection and was very keen to make sure all the material would be kept for posterity.
You can order a copy of this fully-illustrated book of 130pp, costing £10 inc post and packing (UK), from us: info@77squadron.org.uk with your address and payment to the bank:
77 Squadron Association
Number: 92348036
Sort code: 09 01 28
(If ordering from abroad, please check postage with us first)
You are warmly invited to mark the
80th Anniversary of 77 arriving at RAF Elvington
Saturday 8th October 2022
Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Force Memorial, Elvington, York, YO41 4AU
Programme:
10.00: Museum open with free admission for Registrants (normally £12 pp)
11.00: Chapel Service conducted by the Revd Taff Morgan and Wreath Laying at the Memorial
12.30pm: Hot and Cold Buffet Lunch in the Halifax Suite
Afternoon: Pre-booked Halifax tours* and entertainment on site
Register £15.00 per person to include lunch.
You can download this form from the Documents box on this page, or use the Donations button with the following in the message box with your payment.
Name (s) ——————————————————————————————————————-
- PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HALIFAX TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED BUT IF YOU WANT TO STILL RESERVE A PLACE LET US KNOW IN CASE OF CANCELLATIONS.
I wish to book places for the 77 Squadron Reunion:
Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Address………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Telephone………………………………………Email………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Total Payment: £…………… …. Cheques to be made out to 77 Squadron Association or by PayPal using the email: info@77squadron.org.uk or using the Donate button or return this booking form to: Hon Treasurer & Membership Secretary : Van Wilson, 20 Grange Garth, York, YO10 4BS before 30th September.
You can contact Rachel Semlyen for more information: rachel@yorkshireairmuseum.org
We look forward to welcoming you back or meeting you for the first time!
Our film about 77 squadron, featuring unique footage of veterans’ stories and the history of the squadron, is available on DVD and with specially-designed and donated cover art by Brian Gaunt.
Tracing the history of the squadron through both world wars and afterwards, the film includes scenes of the association’s reunions and ceremonies, family memories and moving interviews with veterans describing their time with the squadron.
The cost of making the film was financed by family members of our association and the narration is by radio announcer, narrator and presenter, Richard Clegg who gave his services free of charge. He says: “It was such a pleasure to be able in some small way to contribute to the memory of the brave and selfless Second World War veterans to whom we all owe so much.”
Most of the former aircrew interviewed for the film over the past decade have now passed away, but we were determined that their voices and memories were captured for posterity. A Heritage Lottery funded extract of the interviews will be used at the Yorkshire Air Museum to help tell the story of the airfield, the aircraft and the people who flew and serviced them.
Chairman of the air museum, Martin Withers DFC, said: “At the museum, situated on the site of Elvington Airfield, you will see examples of both the Halifax and the Dakota aircraft as flown by 77 Squadron. Watching this film one realises how valuable are recordings such as this and must recognise the forethought of 77 Squadron Association for organising and funding the filming.”
The film was compiled and untiringly edited by Van Wilson, whose father was a pilot with the squadron, with filming by Rachel Semlyen and York company, Parashoots. It was produced by Ollie Bostock of Hewitt and Walker of York.
To obtain your copy of this 45 minute DVD, The Story of 77 Squadron, at £12 to include postage and packing, £15 for overseas, contact info@77squadron.org.uk
info@77squadron.org.uk
