The day that shocked us all to despair and disbelief was 25 March 1953, when Britt and two other Air Force personnel were attempting a landing at rainy, windswept Friendship Airport. Exactly what went wrong we will never know, since all personnel were lost in the crash, reporting nothing abnormal during the landing procedure.

Britt was born on 15 June 1918 in Hampton, Virginia, where he grew up to young manhood, attending one of the finest of military schools, Virginia Military Institute, graduating from there in June 1939. Then one of his fondest early ambitions was realized in his being admitted to West Point on 1 July 1939 as part of the Class of 1943. At West Point, his constant desire to improve and broaden his experience and to enjoy his fellow man was evident in his varied activities — track and lacrosse for sports, fishing club and company hop manager for relaxation and good fellowship, and company Howitzer representative for useful experience. His leadership and popularity were attested by his being voted class vice president in his yearling year and in being designated a cadet lieutenant in his first class year. Also it should be noted that Britt was one who hugely enjoyed “bull sessions” . . . his outstanding friendliness and earnestness for items of serious import won him many steadfast and admiring friends among his fellow cadets.

When the urgencies of war necessitated early flight training for Air Corps aspirants in the spring of 1942, Britt was among those who responded. After six months of intensive, arduous training, Britt pinned on his pilot wings with 166 classmates.

Long before graduation, Britt met the girl who was to become his bride, Eleanor Copeland of Cleveland, who was attending Stephens College at the time. They spent many a happy hour planning for the years following graduation — their shared dreams culminating in a beautiful wedding at the Cadet Chapel on 20 January 1943, the day following Britt’s graduation.

There followed a series of many stateside stations, with other classmates and their wives, preparing for eventual overseas assignment. First there was Sebring, Florida, for B-17 transition training, then Ephrata and Spokane, Washington, for combat crew training. Then Britt was sorely disappointed, when he had to give up his assigned crew that he had trained into a well-integrated combat unit. He was made a combat crew instructor, first at Ephrata, Washington, then at Ardmore, Oklahoma. Britt worked hard to indoctrinate and instruct the combat crews, deeply conscious of their destination after graduation. As was his constant inclination, Britt strove to improve his own qualifications, particularly, at that time, in operational flying, but not overlooking associated activities in personnel, intelligence, and materiel. His devotion to duty and hard work was rewarded in May 1944, when he was promoted to captain. Although gratifying, his promotion did, of course, delay his assignment to an overseas station.

Finally, in December 1944, he was sent overseas, joining a highly seasoned combat group, the 95th Bomb Group (Heavy) in East Anglia, England. Feeling that he was a relatively inexperienced combat crewman, Britt worked hard to become qualified as a combat leader. Personnel in the group soon learned Britt had the necessary courage, stamina, and flying ability. After only a few missions he was made a squadron leader. Soon thereafter he was leading the Group on combat missions, working at other times in Group Operations — briefing crews and preparing operational instructions. In the space of only five months Britt was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and promoted to major and squadron commander. In June 1945, he returned to the U.S. to be trained in B-29s for assignment in the Pacific. Cessation of the war against the final Axis partner, Japan, however, permitted him to renew his married life with his lovely and devoted Ellie.

As a comparatively young major, Britt wore his rank well — his quiet but confident manner and soldierly bearing giving the rank all the dignity it deserved. However, in the relaxed atmosphere of the post-war period, Britt wasn’t content to take it easy for long. After a three-year tour at Wright-Patterson Field, where he served as executive to a general officer for most of his tour, Britt was accepted on application for the Harvard School of Business, graduating there from with a M.B.A. in 1950, thus completing a total of 22 years of academic schooling. He was then assigned to the new Air Research and Development Command Headquarters in Washington, DC, transferring with that headquarters to Baltimore in June 1951. Here he held a key position as Assistant Chief of Staff — a further testimonial to his outstanding abilities. Here, as everywhere, Britt’s friendliness, hard work, and devotion to duty won him a host of admirers and friends. In nearby Severna Park, Maryland, Britt and Ellie led a quiet, happy life. Here they achieved a long shared desire ’ adopting a strapping, handsome four-month old baby boy, Craig, in July 1952.

Then with his life at its fullest, when he was well on his way to an outstanding USAF career, be met the untimely, shocking accident that ended his life. Why this should happen is the deepest of life’s mysteries — known only to our Maker. God allowed him the measured portion and now has taken him for the life beyond. Those of us fortunate enough to have known Britt thank God for permitting the pleasure of that association. Now we do not forget, but strive on avowed to do better in our own lives, certain we gained much from knowing Britt. We find guidance and comfort in our Lord’s Holy Scripture:

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever,

but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men.”

— Lamentations 3:31–33 (Revised Standard Version)

— A classmate