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Colin Brown (RAF officer)

April 10, 2024

Air Vice Marshal Colin Peter Brown CB, CBE, DFC & Bar (20 December 1898 – 19 October 1965) was a Scottish officer who began his career in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War, before transferring to the Royal Air Force (RAF). A flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories, he remained in the RAF and served throughout the Second World War, retiring in 1954.[1]

Colin Peter Brown
Born(1898-12-20)20 December 1898
Langside, Scotland
Died19 October 1965(1965-10-19) (aged 66)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy (1917–18)
 Royal Air Force (1918–54)
Years of service1917–1954
RankAir Vice Marshal
Commands heldRAF Catterick (1937–38)
No. 26 Squadron (1935–37)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Croix de guerre (France)

Early life and career edit

Brown was born in Langside, Glasgow,[2] and was educated at Dulwich College, London.[3]

He entered the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight officer on 28 January 1917,[4] and was commissioned as a flight sub-lieutenant on 13 June.[5] He was posted to the Seaplane Defence Flight,[1] a unit created to defend the seaplanes which operated out of Dunkirk, flying the Sopwith Camel. His first aerial victory came on 13 November 1917 when he destroyed an Albatros D.V east of Nieuport, but it was another five months before he gained a second victory, forcing down another Albatros D.V over Uitkerke on 27 April 1918.[2] In between these two victories, on 15 January 1918 the Seaplane Defence Flight had been renamed No. 13 (Naval) Squadron, and on 1 April 1918 it became No. 213 Squadron RAF.[1]

Brown was granted a commission as a second lieutenant in the RAF on 3 July 1918.[6] He was soon promoted to lieutenant, and on 9 August was appointed acting-captain while serving as a flight commander.[7]

Brown was noted for his willingness to fight, attacking land and sea targets as well as enemy aircraft. He even went so far as to strafe Zeebrugge harbor in a night attack. He accrued victories steadily until his climactic solo destruction of three Fokker D.VIIs on 4 October 1918. In total, Brown was credited with eight enemy aircraft destroyed and six driven down out of control in 374 flying hours. Eleven of his wins were over first-rate German fighters; Albatros D.Vs and Fokker D.VIIs. Two of his three victories over observation planes, he shared with other pilots, including the American ace, and future United States Navy rear admiral, David Ingalls.[3]

On account of his combat record Brown was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross; firstly on 21 September 1918[8] and then again on 29 November.[9] He also received the Croix de Guerre from France, for his "services in Flanders" on 1 November.[10]

His citations read:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant Colin Peter Brown (Sea Patrol).
Was engaged in a bombing raid on an enemy seaplane base by night, and dropped his bombs from a height of 500 feet, causing considerable destruction. Shortly afterwards he bombed an enemy aerodrome in daylight, also from a height of 500 feet, and then descended to 300 feet and destroyed an enemy machine. On arriving at his aerodrome fifty-nine bullet-holes were found in his machine. He has since then destroyed two enemy aeroplanes. Lieutenant Brown has been engaged in several other aerial fights, and has proved himself a gallant and resourceful flight leader.

Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant (Acting-Captain) Colin Peter Brown DFC. (Sea Patrol Flanders).
A fine fighting pilot and brilliant leader who has destroyed thirteen enemy aircraft. On 4 October he led his formation of fifteen scouts to attack a superior number of the enemy. Nine of the latter were destroyed, Captain Brown, single-handed, accounting for three.

Inter-war career edit

On 1 August 1919 the RAF introduced its own rank structure and Brown changed from lieutenant to flying officer. From 25 November he served aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Argus, and on 31 May 1920 was appointed an instructor at the School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation. On 5 January 1921 he was posted to No. 205 Squadron, and on 1 October to No. 3 Squadron, flying the Airco DH.9A from RAF Leuchars. On 6 September 1922, he was injured after making a forced landing in the Moray Firth, following an engine failure. On 1 April 1923 he was assigned to No. 420 Flight.[1]

Beginning in September 1923 he took the Signals Course at the Electrical and Wireless School at RAF Flowerdown,[11] and in September 1924 was appointed a staff officer in the Signals Branch,[1] at the Air Ministry.[12] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1925.[13] From 19 September 1927 he attended the RAF Staff College in Andover, Hampshire.[14] On 29 January 1929 Brown was posted to No. 30 Squadron in Iraq,[15] transferring to No. 84 Squadron at RAF Shaibah, Iraq, on 16 March[16] to serve as a flight commander.[1] On 28 August he was posted to the Headquarters of Iraq Command.[17]

On 1 February 1931 Brown was posted to No. 13 Squadron at RAF Netheravon[18] to serve as a signals officer. On 12 December 1932 he became a staff officer in the Signals Branch.[1] He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 October 1934,[19] and from 1 December served as a signals officer,[1] serving at No. 21 Group Headquarters, South Farnborough, on signals duties until 10 November 1935.[20]

On 5 October 1935 he was appointed commander of No. 26 (Army Co-operation) Squadron at RAF Catterick.[21] On 30 August 1937 he was appointed station commander at RAF Catterick.[22] On 1 January 1938 he was promoted to wing commander,[23] and on 4 July was assigned to the Directorate of Staff Duties at the Air Ministry.[24]

Second World War edit

Brown was promoted to acting group captain on 1 March 1940, and appointed Senior Air Staff Officer in No. 60 (Signals) Group, Fighter Command,[1] which was responsible for the RAF's radar network. On 24 April he was transferred to the RAF's Technical Branch.[25] On 1 September he was promoted to temporary group captain.[26] In September 1941 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "in recognition of distinguished services rendered in operational commands of the Royal Air Force during the period 1st October 1940 to 31st March 1941".[27]

He was appointed acting-air commodore on 19 August 1942, to serve as Director of Radar at the Air Ministry, appointed group captain (war substantive) on 19 February 1943,[1] and promoted to group captain on 1 December.[28] He served in the Directorate of Operational Requirements at the Air Ministry from 1945[1] until December 1947.[29] On 14 June 1945, in the King's birthday honours, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[30]

Post-war career edit

Brown was promoted to air commodore on 1 July 1947, and from 1949 served as Chief Signals Officer, Middle East Air Force. He was appointed acting air vice-marshal on 7 April 1950 to serve as Assistant Controller of Supplies (Air) at the Ministry of Supply,[1] and was promoted to air vice-marshal on 1 January 1952.[31] Brown was forced by ill-health to resign from his post in early 1953.[32] He eventually left the RAF on 15 March 1954.[1]

Air Vice Marshal Brown died on 19 October 1965.[1]

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Air Vice-Marshal C. P. Brown (03163)". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Colin Peter Brown". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  3. ^ a b Shores et.al. (1997), p. 89.
  4. ^ "Royal Naval Air Service Appointments". Flight. IX (423): 117. 1 February 1917. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Royal Naval Air Service Appointments". Flight. IX (446): 713. 12 July 1917. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. X (499): 810. 18 July 1918. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  7. ^ "No. 30876". The London Gazette. 30 August 1918. p. 10189.
  8. ^ "No. 30913". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 September 1918. pp. 11248–11249.
  9. ^ "No. 31046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 November 1918. pp. 14315–14316.
  10. ^ "No. 30999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 November 1918. pp. 13199–13200.
  11. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XV (767): 539. 6 September 1923. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XVI (824): 645. 2 October 1924. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  13. ^ "No. 33007". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1924. p. 8.
  14. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XIX (981): 727. 13 October 1927. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXI (1050): 109. 7 February 1929. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  16. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXI (1060): 327. 18 April 1929. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXI (1084): 1083. 4 October 1929. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXIII (1155): 151. 13 February 1931. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  19. ^ "No. 34092". The London Gazette. 2 October 1934. p. 6180.
  20. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXVIII (1405): 558. 28 November 1935. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  21. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXVIII (1400): 436. 24 October 1935. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  22. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXXII (1499): 295. 16 September 1937. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  23. ^ "No. 34468". The London Gazette. 31 December 1937. p. 8194.
  24. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XXXIV (1545): 107. 4 August 1938. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  25. ^ "No. 34970". The London Gazette. 15 October 1940. p. 6021.
  26. ^ "No. 34949". The London Gazette. 20 September 1940. p. 5580.
  27. ^ "No. 35284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 September 1941. p. 5567.
  28. ^ "Royal Air Force Appointments". Flight. XLV (1833): 159. 10 February 1944. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  29. ^ "New D.O.R". Flight. LII (2035): 73O. 25 December 1947. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  30. ^ "No. 37119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1945. p. 2936.
  31. ^ "Royal Air Force Half-Yearly Promotions". Flight. LXI (2242): 56. 11 January 1952. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  32. ^ "M.o.S Senior Appointment". Flight. LXIII (2300): 218. 20 February 1953. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.

April 10, 2024
colin, brown, officer, vice, marshal, colin, peter, brown, december, 1898, october, 1965, scottish, officer, began, career, royal, naval, service, during, first, world, before, transferring, royal, force, flying, credited, with, aerial, victories, remained, se. Air Vice Marshal Colin Peter Brown CB CBE DFC amp Bar 20 December 1898 19 October 1965 was a Scottish officer who began his career in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War before transferring to the Royal Air Force RAF A flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories he remained in the RAF and served throughout the Second World War retiring in 1954 1 Colin Peter BrownBorn 1898 12 20 20 December 1898Langside ScotlandDied19 October 1965 1965 10 19 aged 66 Allegiance United KingdomService wbr branch Royal Navy 1917 18 Royal Air Force 1918 54 Years of service1917 1954RankAir Vice MarshalCommands heldRAF Catterick 1937 38 No 26 Squadron 1935 37 Battles warsFirst World WarSecond World WarAwardsCompanion of the Order of the BathCommander of the Order of the British EmpireDistinguished Flying Cross amp BarCroix de guerre France Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Inter war career 3 Second World War 4 Post war career 5 ReferencesEarly life and career editBrown was born in Langside Glasgow 2 and was educated at Dulwich College London 3 He entered the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight officer on 28 January 1917 4 and was commissioned as a flight sub lieutenant on 13 June 5 He was posted to the Seaplane Defence Flight 1 a unit created to defend the seaplanes which operated out of Dunkirk flying the Sopwith Camel His first aerial victory came on 13 November 1917 when he destroyed an Albatros D V east of Nieuport but it was another five months before he gained a second victory forcing down another Albatros D V over Uitkerke on 27 April 1918 2 In between these two victories on 15 January 1918 the Seaplane Defence Flight had been renamed No 13 Naval Squadron and on 1 April 1918 it became No 213 Squadron RAF 1 Brown was granted a commission as a second lieutenant in the RAF on 3 July 1918 6 He was soon promoted to lieutenant and on 9 August was appointed acting captain while serving as a flight commander 7 Brown was noted for his willingness to fight attacking land and sea targets as well as enemy aircraft He even went so far as to strafe Zeebrugge harbor in a night attack He accrued victories steadily until his climactic solo destruction of three Fokker D VIIs on 4 October 1918 In total Brown was credited with eight enemy aircraft destroyed and six driven down out of control in 374 flying hours Eleven of his wins were over first rate German fighters Albatros D Vs and Fokker D VIIs Two of his three victories over observation planes he shared with other pilots including the American ace and future United States Navy rear admiral David Ingalls 3 On account of his combat record Brown was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross firstly on 21 September 1918 8 and then again on 29 November 9 He also received the Croix de Guerre from France for his services in Flanders on 1 November 10 His citations read Distinguished Flying Cross Lieutenant Colin Peter Brown Sea Patrol Was engaged in a bombing raid on an enemy seaplane base by night and dropped his bombs from a height of 500 feet causing considerable destruction Shortly afterwards he bombed an enemy aerodrome in daylight also from a height of 500 feet and then descended to 300 feet and destroyed an enemy machine On arriving at his aerodrome fifty nine bullet holes were found in his machine He has since then destroyed two enemy aeroplanes Lieutenant Brown has been engaged in several other aerial fights and has proved himself a gallant and resourceful flight leader Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross Lieutenant Acting Captain Colin Peter Brown DFC Sea Patrol Flanders A fine fighting pilot and brilliant leader who has destroyed thirteen enemy aircraft On 4 October he led his formation of fifteen scouts to attack a superior number of the enemy Nine of the latter were destroyed Captain Brown single handed accounting for three Inter war career editOn 1 August 1919 the RAF introduced its own rank structure and Brown changed from lieutenant to flying officer From 25 November he served aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Argus and on 31 May 1920 was appointed an instructor at the School of Naval Co operation and Aerial Navigation On 5 January 1921 he was posted to No 205 Squadron and on 1 October to No 3 Squadron flying the Airco DH 9A from RAF Leuchars On 6 September 1922 he was injured after making a forced landing in the Moray Firth following an engine failure On 1 April 1923 he was assigned to No 420 Flight 1 Beginning in September 1923 he took the Signals Course at the Electrical and Wireless School at RAF Flowerdown 11 and in September 1924 was appointed a staff officer in the Signals Branch 1 at the Air Ministry 12 He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1925 13 From 19 September 1927 he attended the RAF Staff College in Andover Hampshire 14 On 29 January 1929 Brown was posted to No 30 Squadron in Iraq 15 transferring to No 84 Squadron at RAF Shaibah Iraq on 16 March 16 to serve as a flight commander 1 On 28 August he was posted to the Headquarters of Iraq Command 17 On 1 February 1931 Brown was posted to No 13 Squadron at RAF Netheravon 18 to serve as a signals officer On 12 December 1932 he became a staff officer in the Signals Branch 1 He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 October 1934 19 and from 1 December served as a signals officer 1 serving at No 21 Group Headquarters South Farnborough on signals duties until 10 November 1935 20 On 5 October 1935 he was appointed commander of No 26 Army Co operation Squadron at RAF Catterick 21 On 30 August 1937 he was appointed station commander at RAF Catterick 22 On 1 January 1938 he was promoted to wing commander 23 and on 4 July was assigned to the Directorate of Staff Duties at the Air Ministry 24 Second World War editBrown was promoted to acting group captain on 1 March 1940 and appointed Senior Air Staff Officer in No 60 Signals Group Fighter Command 1 which was responsible for the RAF s radar network On 24 April he was transferred to the RAF s Technical Branch 25 On 1 September he was promoted to temporary group captain 26 In September 1941 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE in recognition of distinguished services rendered in operational commands of the Royal Air Force during the period 1st October 1940 to 31st March 1941 27 He was appointed acting air commodore on 19 August 1942 to serve as Director of Radar at the Air Ministry appointed group captain war substantive on 19 February 1943 1 and promoted to group captain on 1 December 28 He served in the Directorate of Operational Requirements at the Air Ministry from 1945 1 until December 1947 29 On 14 June 1945 in the King s birthday honours he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath CB 30 Post war career editBrown was promoted to air commodore on 1 July 1947 and from 1949 served as Chief Signals Officer Middle East Air Force He was appointed acting air vice marshal on 7 April 1950 to serve as Assistant Controller of Supplies Air at the Ministry of Supply 1 and was promoted to air vice marshal on 1 January 1952 31 Brown was forced by ill health to resign from his post in early 1953 32 He eventually left the RAF on 15 March 1954 1 Air Vice Marshal Brown died on 19 October 1965 1 References editNotes a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Air Vice Marshal C P Brown 03163 Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation 2013 Retrieved 21 September 2014 a b Colin Peter Brown The Aerodrome 2014 Retrieved 21 September 2014 a b Shores et al 1997 p 89 Royal Naval Air Service Appointments Flight IX 423 117 1 February 1917 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Naval Air Service Appointments Flight IX 446 713 12 July 1917 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight X 499 810 18 July 1918 Retrieved 21 September 2014 No 30876 The London Gazette 30 August 1918 p 10189 No 30913 The London Gazette Supplement 20 September 1918 pp 11248 11249 No 31046 The London Gazette Supplement 29 November 1918 pp 14315 14316 No 30999 The London Gazette Supplement 5 November 1918 pp 13199 13200 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XV 767 539 6 September 1923 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XVI 824 645 2 October 1924 Retrieved 21 September 2014 No 33007 The London Gazette Supplement 30 December 1924 p 8 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XIX 981 727 13 October 1927 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXI 1050 109 7 February 1929 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXI 1060 327 18 April 1929 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXI 1084 1083 4 October 1929 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXIII 1155 151 13 February 1931 Retrieved 21 September 2014 No 34092 The London Gazette 2 October 1934 p 6180 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXVIII 1405 558 28 November 1935 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXVIII 1400 436 24 October 1935 Retrieved 21 September 2014 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXXII 1499 295 16 September 1937 Retrieved 21 September 2014 No 34468 The London Gazette 31 December 1937 p 8194 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XXXIV 1545 107 4 August 1938 Retrieved 21 September 2014 No 34970 The London Gazette 15 October 1940 p 6021 No 34949 The London Gazette 20 September 1940 p 5580 No 35284 The London Gazette Supplement 23 September 1941 p 5567 Royal Air Force Appointments Flight XLV 1833 159 10 February 1944 Retrieved 21 September 2014 New D O R Flight LII 2035 73O 25 December 1947 Retrieved 21 September 2014 No 37119 The London Gazette Supplement 8 June 1945 p 2936 Royal Air Force Half Yearly Promotions Flight LXI 2242 56 11 January 1952 Retrieved 21 September 2014 M o S Senior Appointment Flight LXIII 2300 218 20 February 1953 Retrieved 21 September 2014 BibliographyShores Christopher F Franks Norman Guest Russell 1990 Above the Trenches A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915 1920 London UK Grub Street ISBN 0 948817 19 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colin Brown RAF officer amp oldid 1157512601, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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