Alfred John Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred John Brown
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|---|---|
| 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 brave pilot during World War I. He was known as a flying ace, which means he shot down or helped shoot down at least five enemy aircraft. Captain Brown achieved eight aerial victories during the war.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
Alfred John Brown was from Sussex, England. This is known because he served in the Royal Sussex Regiment.
In March 1917, he joined the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force of Britain at the time. By December 1917, he became a leader of a group of planes, called a flight commander, in No. 24 Squadron. This role usually meant he was temporarily promoted to the rank of Captain.
A Flying Ace in World War I
By January 1918, Alfred Brown was already a successful pilot. He had achieved two victories flying an Airco DH.5 plane. He continued to be very successful, getting five more victories in March 1918 while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. After these quick successes, he was given a break from combat on March 15.
Captain Brown was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery and skill. This special award was officially announced in June 1918. The award citation praised his actions:
- He and his team attacked two enemy planes. One was forced down out of control, and the other was badly damaged.
- The next day, he attacked an enemy plane that was looking for information. He forced it to land behind their own lines.
- Another time, he bravely volunteered to attack an enemy airfield in foggy weather. He dropped bombs from only 200 feet high, damaging a hangar. He then attacked enemy vehicles and even soldiers in a village with his machine gun.
The award recognized his great skill and daring as a leader of flying patrols.
After receiving the Military Cross, he flew a different plane, a Sopwith Dolphin, for No. 23 Squadron. He achieved one more victory, bringing his total to eight. Two enemy planes were completely destroyed, and six others were forced down out of control.
In August 1918, his plane was shot down, but he managed to crash-land safely and survived.
List of Aerial Victories
Here is a list of Captain Brown's aerial victories:
| 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 |
After World War I
After the war, Captain Alfred John Brown officially became a Captain in the Royal Air Force in November 1918.
In March 1919, he left the Royal Air Force because of poor health, but he was allowed to keep his rank of Captain. He also resigned from the Sussex Regiment in May 1919 due to illness, keeping the honorary rank of Lieutenant. However, this resignation was later cancelled.
Not much more is known about Alfred John Brown after May 1919.
