Alfred John Brown | |
---|---|
Born | 1897 Deal, Kent |
Died | After 16 May 1919 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Rank | Captain |
Unit |
Royal Sussex Regiment No. 24 Squadron RAF No. 23 Squadron RAF |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Awards | Military Cross |
Captain Alfred John Brown MC was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. [1]
Alfred John Brown was apparently from Sussex, England, as evidenced by his service in the Royal Sussex Regiment.
On 3 March 1917, second lieutenant A. J. Brown was seconded from the Royal Sussex Regiment to the Royal Flying Corps. [2] He became a flight commander in No. 24 Squadron in December 1917. [3] (Appointment to command a flight customarily carried a temporary promotion to the rank of captain.)
On 11 January 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant and stayed seconded. [4] By the date of his promotion, he was already a successful aerial warrior with two victories to his credit while flying an Airco DH.5. He would score five more quick victories in early March 1918 while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. On 15 March, he was withdrawn from combat for a rest. [3]
His aerial victory exploits were not the only feats responsible for his earning the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 22 June 1918:
Following the Military Cross award, he would upgrade to flying a Sopwith Dolphin for No. 23 Squadron and score one final victory. His ending victory total for the war was two enemy planes destroyed, and six sent down out of control. [3]
On 31 August 1918, he was one of three members of his patrol that were shot down. He survived the crash landing. [3]
No. | Date/Time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 September 1917 @ 1705 hours | Airco DH.5 serial number B362 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Between Anneux and Rumilly, Pas-de-Calais, France | |
2 | 10 December 1917 @ 1200 hours | Airco DH.5 s/n B4918 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Honnecourt-sur-Escaut, France | |
3 | 6 March 1918 @ 1015 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Saint Quentin, France | Victory shared with Andrew Cowper |
4 | 11 March 1918 @ 1315 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | German reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | East of Bellenglise, France | Victory shared with Herbert Richardson, Ronald Mark, two other pilots |
5 | 11 March 1918 @ 1815 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | Ribemont, France | |
6 | 12 March 1918 @ 1840 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | German airplane | Destroyed | Southwest of Saint Quentin, France | |
7 | 13 March 1918 @ 1245 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Bellecourt, France | |
8 | 23 August 1918 @ 1859 hours | Sopwith Dolphin s/n D3732 | DFW two-seater | Driven down out of control | Between Maricourt and Suzanne, France | Victory shared with two other pilots [3] |
A. J. Brown MC was confirmed in rank as a captain in the Administrative Branch effective 28 November 1918. [6]
On 12 March 1919, Captain A. J. Brown MC "of the flying branch" resigned his commission because of poor health; however, he retained his rank. [7]
On 2 May 1919, A. J. Brown MC resigned his commission in the Sussex Regiment because of illness, but kept the honorary rank of Lieutenant. [8] However, on 16 May, this resignation was cancelled. [9]
Nothing more is known of Alfred John Brown.