Frederick Elliott Brown
Encyclopedia
Captain Frederick Elliott Brown was a Canadian World War I flying ace
credited with 10 aerial victories. He returned to military service during World War II.
on 3 February 1895. His education progressed to medical studies at Laval University. He joined the 8th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
, and later served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers
. He is known to have served on the French front from March through July 1916.
as a Flying Officer
, with seniority from 29 August 1916. On 17 May 1917, he was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig. On 14 July 1917, he was awarded the French Croix de guerre. On 8 November 1917, while posted to 84 Squadron as a SE.5a pilot, Brown scored his first aerial victory, driving down an Albatros D.V
out of control east of Poelcapelle. The win was shared with James Martin Child.
On 6 February 1918, Brown was appointed a Flight Commander, with the concomitant rank of temporary captain. Ten days later, he scored three individual victories in a 40 minutes stretch; he sent down out of control two Albatros D.Vs over Saint Quentin, then destroyed a German two-seater reconnaissance plane.
March 1918 saw half a dozen triumphs by Brown. He began by sharing in the destruction of an Albatros D.V with George Owen Johnson
on the 11th. Over the 17th and 18th, he drove down three more Albatros D.Vs out of control. He rounded off his tally by destroying a Pfalz D.III
over Fayet
on the 22nd. In all, Brown destroyed four enemy planes and drove down six out of combat.
On 22 April 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross:
"...Whilst leading a patrol of five machines, on observing four hostile scouts diving on one of our formations, he at once engaged them, driving one of them down completely out of control, while his formation dispersed the others. Later, on sighting another hostile scout, he engaged it and forced it down spinning and out of control. While returning to his aerodrome, he observed an enemy two-seater, and, though his engine was running badly and might have failed him any moment, he attacked it and drove it down in a vertical nose dive. Previously to this he had driven down one other machine, which was seen to crash, and a third completely out of control. He is a most daring and skilful pilot.
On 9 May 1918, he was reported wounded.
On 22 June 1918, he was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross in lieu of a second award:
"...During an engagement between fourteen of our scouts and about forty enemy scouts he shot down two enemy machines completely out of control. On another occasion he attacked a formation of seven enemy scouts and destroyed one of them. He has destroyed two other enemy machines and driven down one other out of control. His courage and initiative have been a source of inspiration to all."
Frederick Elliott Brown returned to service during World War II, serving as an instructor in the Royal Canadian Air Force
.
He died in Toronto on 15 September 1971.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 10 aerial victories. He returned to military service during World War II.
Early life and service
Frederick Elliott Brown was born in QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
on 3 February 1895. His education progressed to medical studies at Laval University. He joined the 8th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
, and later served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
. He is known to have served on the French front from March through July 1916.
World War I
On 4 January 1917, Lieutenant F. E. Brown was seconded for duty with the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
as a 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...
, with seniority from 29 August 1916. On 17 May 1917, he was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig. On 14 July 1917, he was awarded the French Croix de guerre. On 8 November 1917, while posted to 84 Squadron as a SE.5a pilot, Brown scored his first aerial victory, driving down an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
out of control east of Poelcapelle. The win was shared with James Martin Child.
On 6 February 1918, Brown was appointed a Flight Commander, with the concomitant rank of temporary captain. Ten days later, he scored three individual victories in a 40 minutes stretch; he sent down out of control two Albatros D.Vs over Saint Quentin, then destroyed a German two-seater reconnaissance plane.
March 1918 saw half a dozen triumphs by Brown. He began by sharing in the destruction of an Albatros D.V with George Owen Johnson
George Owen Johnson
Air Marshal George Owen Johnson CB, MC was a Canadian aviator.-World War I service:Born in Woodstock, Ontario in 1896, George Owen Johnson initially served as a subaltern with the Corps of School Cadet Instructors from 1913 to 1916...
on the 11th. Over the 17th and 18th, he drove down three more Albatros D.Vs out of control. He rounded off his tally by destroying a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
over Fayet
Fayet
Fayet may refer to:*places in France:** Fayet, Aisne, a commune in the department of Aisne** Fayet, Aveyron, a commune in the department of Aveyron** Fayet-le-Château, a commune in the department of Puy-de-Dôme...
on the 22nd. In all, Brown destroyed four enemy planes and drove down six out of combat.
On 22 April 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross:
"...Whilst leading a patrol of five machines, on observing four hostile scouts diving on one of our formations, he at once engaged them, driving one of them down completely out of control, while his formation dispersed the others. Later, on sighting another hostile scout, he engaged it and forced it down spinning and out of control. While returning to his aerodrome, he observed an enemy two-seater, and, though his engine was running badly and might have failed him any moment, he attacked it and drove it down in a vertical nose dive. Previously to this he had driven down one other machine, which was seen to crash, and a third completely out of control. He is a most daring and skilful pilot.
On 9 May 1918, he was reported wounded.
On 22 June 1918, he was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross in lieu of a second award:
"...During an engagement between fourteen of our scouts and about forty enemy scouts he shot down two enemy machines completely out of control. On another occasion he attacked a formation of seven enemy scouts and destroyed one of them. He has destroyed two other enemy machines and driven down one other out of control. His courage and initiative have been a source of inspiration to all."
Post World War I
On 12 July 1919, Brown was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force for his demobilization.Frederick Elliott Brown returned to service during World War II, serving as an instructor in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
He died in Toronto on 15 September 1971.