LAC Frank Browdie was a Rigger on the R34 and was with the R38. Fortunately, he was not on board that airship when it crashed, claiming 44 lives and went on to join the R101 team. He lived in Shortstown from 1930 – 1939 but it is quite possible that he lived there earlier, as many of the R38 crew were stationed there.
Below is an extract from an article in the Chippenham Evening Post in 1968 reporting on the lifetime of resident Fred Browdie. I was thrilled to come across this article as I had wondered what had happened to him when he left Shortstown in 1939 having lived there since 1930.
“After taking part in this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Royal Air Force, Mr Fred Browdie of 136, Sheldon Rd Chippenham is looking forward to another jubilee next year. Mr Browdie was a member of the crew of the airship R34 which in July 1919 made the first aerial double crossing of the Atlantic.
He is one of 5 remaining survivors and it is hoped to arrange a reunion to mark the occasion. A native of Chippenham Mr Browdie joined the Royal Navy in September 1914 as a boy and transferred to the Royal Navy Air Service in 1915. He was serving with them on April 1 1918 when the RAF was formed on the amalgamation with the Royal Flying Corp – so that he is a founder member of the RAF. Mr Browdie was concerned with the development of airships and flew as a crew member. Whilst on submarine spotting duties as an observer on the Dover patrol he was shot down off Ostend and was picked up after four hours in the water by a fishing boat from Folkestone. He worked on the Rigid Airship R9, R31 and R32 as well as a high-altitude ship R80. Then came the historic flight across the Atlantic on the R34 in July 1919.
Ten years later he was a member of the test crew of the R101 which crashed in France on the way to her maiden flight to India. Mr Browdie was on all her trials which took her all round Britain. He was a member of her reserve crew when she set off on that tragic maiden flight, and as such was to be flown by plane to Egypt to take over the continuation flight to India. Many of the people who watched her leave had a presentiment of impending disaster as the trials had not been entirely satisfactory. When airships were abandoned Mr Browdie continued with the Air Ministry as a civilian until he retired three and a half years ago. He served at Cardington, Locking, Hullavington, Wroughton, and Loughton and is the holder of the Imperial Service Medal. Mr Browdie has lived in Chippenham since 1939 and is treasurer of the Chippenham branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.”