Education
Brabner, who was an Essex man from Loughton, was educated at Felsted School and Street Catharine"s College, Cambridge.
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Rupert Brabner
Edit ProfileCareer
By profession he was a banker and a director of Singer & Friedlander Limited.
He was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Hythe in Kent on 20 July 1939, and was later appointed as a government whip. He was appointed to be Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air in 1944. Brabner served as an officer of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War as a Fleet Air Arm pilot.
He served with 806 Squadron (November 1940), 805 (early 1941), 806 Squadron (March 1941) and 801 Squadrons Federal Aviation Administration at HMS Illustrious (aircraft carrier), HMS Heron (Registered Nurse Air Station, Yeovilton, Somerset), HMS Eagle (aircraft carrier), HMS Victorious (aircraft carrier), HMS Indomitable (aircraft carrier) and at Crete and North Africa.
From 11 August 1941 to September 1942 Brabner was the commanding officer of 801 Squadron serving aboard HMS Eagle which was sunk on 11 August 1942. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions during Operation Harpoon.
After surviving the loss of the Eagle he was appointed to the staff of ViceAdmiral Aircraft Carriers for landings in North Africa and in 1943 was made Naval Assistant (Technical) to the 5th Sea Lord. Brabner was an air ace with 5 confirmed destroyed enemy aircraft, 1 shared destroyed, and 1 probable.
Commander Brabner died age 33 when the Liberator aircraft taking him to Canada with Air Marshal Peter Drummond was lost off the Azores.
He is commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial on bay 6, panel 2.
Achievements
Membership
37th United Kingdom Parliament]
Brabner became a member of London County Council for West Lewisham in 1937, and served until his death.
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Born
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Died
1945 (aged 34) -
Nationality
United Kingdom -
Political Party
Conservative Party