Maurice Brown
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Maurice Peter Brown, AFC
(1919 – 2011) was a World War II Royal Air Force
fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain
.
Brown joined the RAF in 1938, and promoted to the rank of Flying Officer
in October 1940. During the Battle of Britain, Brown flew spitfires
with No. 611 Squadron RAF
and No. 41 Squadron RAF
. During the battle he claimed 3 and 1 shared destroyed, and one shared 'probable'.
Following the Battle of Britain, Brown was a flying instructor at No. 61 OTU Operational Training Unit
and Cranwell
Flying Training School. He was promoted to flight lieutenant
in January 1944 and subsequently to the rank of squadron leader
.
He was awarded the Air Force Cross
in December 1945. He was released from the RAF in November 1945, retaining the rank of squadron leader
.
In 2004, Brown wrote Honour Restored about the Battle of Britain and his exploits and those of his fellow pilots.
Brown was a member of the Battle of Britain Historical Society and unveiled a plaque at Stockport Grammar School
to commemorate two Battle of Britain
pilots who attended the school.
Brown died on 20 January 2011.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Maurice Peter Brown, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(1919 – 2011) was a World War II Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Brown joined the RAF in 1938, and promoted to the rank of Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in October 1940. During the Battle of Britain, Brown flew spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
with No. 611 Squadron RAF
No. 611 Squadron RAF
No. 611 Squadron was a British Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron first formed in 1936 and lastly disbanded in 1957.-Early years:...
and No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently the RAF's Test and Evaluation Squadron , based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The Squadron celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2011, and is one of the oldest RAF squadrons in existence.-First World War, 1916–1919:No...
. During the battle he claimed 3 and 1 shared destroyed, and one shared 'probable'.
Following the Battle of Britain, Brown was a flying instructor at No. 61 OTU Operational Training Unit
Operational Conversion Unit
An Operational Conversion Unit is a unit within an air force whose role is to support preparation for the operational missions of a specific aircraft type by providing trained personnel. OCUs teach pilots how to fly an aircraft and which tactics best exploit the performance of their aircraft and...
and Cranwell
Cranwell
Cranwell is a village situated in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. It is part of the Civil Parish of Cranwell and Byard's Leap and is located 3.95 miles north-north-west of Sleaford and 16.3 miles south-east of the county town of Lincoln...
Flying Training School. He was promoted to flight lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in January 1944 and subsequently to the rank of squadron leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
He was awarded the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
in December 1945. He was released from the RAF in November 1945, retaining the rank of squadron leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
In 2004, Brown wrote Honour Restored about the Battle of Britain and his exploits and those of his fellow pilots.
Brown was a member of the Battle of Britain Historical Society and unveiled a plaque at Stockport Grammar School
Stockport Grammar School
Stockport Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Stockport, England, founded in 1487 by the 1482 Lord Mayor of London Sir Edmund Shaa.The school motto is "Vincit qui patitur" – He who endures, conquers....
to commemorate two Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
pilots who attended the school.
Brown died on 20 January 2011.