Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt. Brett was killed when Bristol Beaufighter Ic T4987 ‘P’ of 252 Squadron was lost on a patrol. The Squadron O.R.B. (Operational Record Book) Form 540 has the following entry:
An offensive patrol was made by three Beaufighters from Barrani to Bardia. On the return trip four barges and one schooner were sighted in position 10 miles N.E. of Barrani. Attacks were made on the barges by two of our aircraft which experienced heavy calibre A.A. fire probably from the schooner. One a/c was hit by the A.A. and the observer, Sgt. Brett, was killed. Three barges were straddled by cannon and machine gun fire and one of them was so badly holed that it must have sunk.
His death was reported in the Bath Chronicle and Herald, 01/08/1942:
TWICE BEREAVED IN TWELVE MONTHS
Bath Girl’s Airman Fiance Killed
A second bereavement within 12 months has been suffered by Miss Molly Koomen, of 8, The Paragon, Bath, by the death of her fiancé, Sergt.-Observer James Vincent Brett.
Sergt. Brett received wounds during air operations, from which he died this month.
In July, 1941, Miss Koomen’s brother, who was serving in the North Somerset Yeomanry, was killed in the Middle East.
Sergt. Brett, whose home was at Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, was 25 years old last May.
He joined the R.A.F. in October, 1939, and was at one time serving in Coastal Command.
