Graduated from Sharon High School in Sharon, Massachusetts, in 1958.
Information sent by Marti64
First Lieutenant Douglas Brookfield was killed with six other airmen when their giant Cargomaster plane exploded just after takeoff in Labrador. He was 24 years old. The four-engine transport, which is the largest in the world, began its flight to Greenland, fell suddenly and burned in the snow by the end of the runway. The fuel tanks had been freshly filled and firemen couldn't get close enough to fight the flames.
Douglas was a charming young man with a zest for life. He was fun to be around. People were always drawn to him instantly when he smiled. He was the oldest of six children, which is probably how he learned about leadership so early. He loved running, playing tennis, and driving and did them all well. He also loved acting on the stage and seeing how well he could magnetize his audience. His leadership skills were also put to use in the Boy Scouts and in church youth groups.
Douglas learned to live life fully and vigorously. He was drawn to the challenge of the Air Force. To prove he could succeed he finished his cadet training and earn his wings as the second highest in his class, though he was also the youngest. He was now a navigator, a flying officer.
He excelled as an airman for more than four years. He won awards and decorations. Maybe the greatest for him was the one for being part of the first crew to fly the lumbering Cargomaster around the world.
Douglas often dreamed of flying planes as a boy. He was encouraged by his uncle, Air Force Colonel Preston Brown. He was home a week before the crash and he was busy making plans to start college in the fall after his five-year tour of duty ended.
Yesterday his parents, Donald and Phyllis Brookfield, attended military services for all seven killed in the crash. The ceremony ended with Taps and a flag coming down at the airbase in Dover.
A memorial service will be held at 4 PM on November 15 at the Unitarian Church in Sharon. Doug's parents urge people not to send flowers but instead to send contributions to the memorial scholarship fund established in their son's name.
Douglas was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon W. Brookfield of St. Petersburg, Florida and of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Herrick Brown. He is also survived by his brothers Donald, Jr. and David and his sisters, Beverly, Jane, and Susan.
PASSING BY
By Douglas Herrick Brookfield
I've passed this way once, long before
I've felt this breeze, I've seen this shore
I've knelt upon this Golden Sand
And sifted grains from hand to hand.
I've heard this surf pound on the beach
And soared with clouds beyond my reach
I've warmed beneath that bright clean sky
And wept cool tears as heavens die.
I've paused and lain where gods must lean
And tasted rain and learned to dream
In passing now I'd leave behind
The paradise I've helped to find.
Yet fancied realms the eye can't see
Haunting dreams of what could be
Taunt me on to seek once more
The longer beach, the wider shore.
Unmarred by truths that only last
To pray for gods along the past
I'll find the seas I've yet to scan
And cross horizons if I can.
The shore goes on as I grow old
So once again my heart retold
The only dream of which I'm sure
I've passed this way once, long before.
Information sent by Marti64
First Lieutenant Douglas Brookfield was killed with six other airmen when their giant Cargomaster plane exploded just after takeoff in Labrador. He was 24 years old. The four-engine transport, which is the largest in the world, began its flight to Greenland, fell suddenly and burned in the snow by the end of the runway. The fuel tanks had been freshly filled and firemen couldn't get close enough to fight the flames.
Douglas was a charming young man with a zest for life. He was fun to be around. People were always drawn to him instantly when he smiled. He was the oldest of six children, which is probably how he learned about leadership so early. He loved running, playing tennis, and driving and did them all well. He also loved acting on the stage and seeing how well he could magnetize his audience. His leadership skills were also put to use in the Boy Scouts and in church youth groups.
Douglas learned to live life fully and vigorously. He was drawn to the challenge of the Air Force. To prove he could succeed he finished his cadet training and earn his wings as the second highest in his class, though he was also the youngest. He was now a navigator, a flying officer.
He excelled as an airman for more than four years. He won awards and decorations. Maybe the greatest for him was the one for being part of the first crew to fly the lumbering Cargomaster around the world.
Douglas often dreamed of flying planes as a boy. He was encouraged by his uncle, Air Force Colonel Preston Brown. He was home a week before the crash and he was busy making plans to start college in the fall after his five-year tour of duty ended.
Yesterday his parents, Donald and Phyllis Brookfield, attended military services for all seven killed in the crash. The ceremony ended with Taps and a flag coming down at the airbase in Dover.
A memorial service will be held at 4 PM on November 15 at the Unitarian Church in Sharon. Doug's parents urge people not to send flowers but instead to send contributions to the memorial scholarship fund established in their son's name.
Douglas was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon W. Brookfield of St. Petersburg, Florida and of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Herrick Brown. He is also survived by his brothers Donald, Jr. and David and his sisters, Beverly, Jane, and Susan.
PASSING BY
By Douglas Herrick Brookfield
I've passed this way once, long before
I've felt this breeze, I've seen this shore
I've knelt upon this Golden Sand
And sifted grains from hand to hand.
I've heard this surf pound on the beach
And soared with clouds beyond my reach
I've warmed beneath that bright clean sky
And wept cool tears as heavens die.
I've paused and lain where gods must lean
And tasted rain and learned to dream
In passing now I'd leave behind
The paradise I've helped to find.
Yet fancied realms the eye can't see
Haunting dreams of what could be
Taunt me on to seek once more
The longer beach, the wider shore.
Unmarred by truths that only last
To pray for gods along the past
I'll find the seas I've yet to scan
And cross horizons if I can.
The shore goes on as I grow old
So once again my heart retold
The only dream of which I'm sure
I've passed this way once, long before.
Graduated from Sharon High School in Sharon, Massachusetts, in 1958.
Information sent by Marti64
First Lieutenant Douglas Brookfield was killed with six other airmen when their giant Cargomaster plane exploded just after takeoff in Labrador. He was 24 years old. The four-engine transport, which is the largest in the world, began its flight to Greenland, fell suddenly and burned in the snow by the end of the runway. The fuel tanks had been freshly filled and firemen couldn't get close enough to fight the flames.
Douglas was a charming young man with a zest for life. He was fun to be around. People were always drawn to him instantly when he smiled. He was the oldest of six children, which is probably how he learned about leadership so early. He loved running, playing tennis, and driving and did them all well. He also loved acting on the stage and seeing how well he could magnetize his audience. His leadership skills were also put to use in the Boy Scouts and in church youth groups.
Douglas learned to live life fully and vigorously. He was drawn to the challenge of the Air Force. To prove he could succeed he finished his cadet training and earn his wings as the second highest in his class, though he was also the youngest. He was now a navigator, a flying officer.
He excelled as an airman for more than four years. He won awards and decorations. Maybe the greatest for him was the one for being part of the first crew to fly the lumbering Cargomaster around the world.
Douglas often dreamed of flying planes as a boy. He was encouraged by his uncle, Air Force Colonel Preston Brown. He was home a week before the crash and he was busy making plans to start college in the fall after his five-year tour of duty ended.
Yesterday his parents, Donald and Phyllis Brookfield, attended military services for all seven killed in the crash. The ceremony ended with Taps and a flag coming down at the airbase in Dover.
A memorial service will be held at 4 PM on November 15 at the Unitarian Church in Sharon. Doug's parents urge people not to send flowers but instead to send contributions to the memorial scholarship fund established in their son's name.
Douglas was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon W. Brookfield of St. Petersburg, Florida and of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Herrick Brown. He is also survived by his brothers Donald, Jr. and David and his sisters, Beverly, Jane, and Susan.
PASSING BY
By Douglas Herrick Brookfield
I've passed this way once, long before
I've felt this breeze, I've seen this shore
I've knelt upon this Golden Sand
And sifted grains from hand to hand.
I've heard this surf pound on the beach
And soared with clouds beyond my reach
I've warmed beneath that bright clean sky
And wept cool tears as heavens die.
I've paused and lain where gods must lean
And tasted rain and learned to dream
In passing now I'd leave behind
The paradise I've helped to find.
Yet fancied realms the eye can't see
Haunting dreams of what could be
Taunt me on to seek once more
The longer beach, the wider shore.
Unmarred by truths that only last
To pray for gods along the past
I'll find the seas I've yet to scan
And cross horizons if I can.
The shore goes on as I grow old
So once again my heart retold
The only dream of which I'm sure
I've passed this way once, long before.
Information sent by Marti64
First Lieutenant Douglas Brookfield was killed with six other airmen when their giant Cargomaster plane exploded just after takeoff in Labrador. He was 24 years old. The four-engine transport, which is the largest in the world, began its flight to Greenland, fell suddenly and burned in the snow by the end of the runway. The fuel tanks had been freshly filled and firemen couldn't get close enough to fight the flames.
Douglas was a charming young man with a zest for life. He was fun to be around. People were always drawn to him instantly when he smiled. He was the oldest of six children, which is probably how he learned about leadership so early. He loved running, playing tennis, and driving and did them all well. He also loved acting on the stage and seeing how well he could magnetize his audience. His leadership skills were also put to use in the Boy Scouts and in church youth groups.
Douglas learned to live life fully and vigorously. He was drawn to the challenge of the Air Force. To prove he could succeed he finished his cadet training and earn his wings as the second highest in his class, though he was also the youngest. He was now a navigator, a flying officer.
He excelled as an airman for more than four years. He won awards and decorations. Maybe the greatest for him was the one for being part of the first crew to fly the lumbering Cargomaster around the world.
Douglas often dreamed of flying planes as a boy. He was encouraged by his uncle, Air Force Colonel Preston Brown. He was home a week before the crash and he was busy making plans to start college in the fall after his five-year tour of duty ended.
Yesterday his parents, Donald and Phyllis Brookfield, attended military services for all seven killed in the crash. The ceremony ended with Taps and a flag coming down at the airbase in Dover.
A memorial service will be held at 4 PM on November 15 at the Unitarian Church in Sharon. Doug's parents urge people not to send flowers but instead to send contributions to the memorial scholarship fund established in their son's name.
Douglas was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon W. Brookfield of St. Petersburg, Florida and of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Herrick Brown. He is also survived by his brothers Donald, Jr. and David and his sisters, Beverly, Jane, and Susan.
PASSING BY
By Douglas Herrick Brookfield
I've passed this way once, long before
I've felt this breeze, I've seen this shore
I've knelt upon this Golden Sand
And sifted grains from hand to hand.
I've heard this surf pound on the beach
And soared with clouds beyond my reach
I've warmed beneath that bright clean sky
And wept cool tears as heavens die.
I've paused and lain where gods must lean
And tasted rain and learned to dream
In passing now I'd leave behind
The paradise I've helped to find.
Yet fancied realms the eye can't see
Haunting dreams of what could be
Taunt me on to seek once more
The longer beach, the wider shore.
Unmarred by truths that only last
To pray for gods along the past
I'll find the seas I've yet to scan
And cross horizons if I can.
The shore goes on as I grow old
So once again my heart retold
The only dream of which I'm sure
I've passed this way once, long before.
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