De Peyster Brown
De Peyster Douw Brown | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1915 Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 3 August 1991 (aged 75) Santa Maria, California, U.S. |
| Allegiance | Canada United States |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1957 |
| Rank | Flying Officer (RCAF) Major (USAAF) |
| Service number | RCAF – C1094 USAAF – AO1699391 |
| Unit | No. 1 Squadron RCAF |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
De Peyster Douw Brown DFC (December 1915 – 3 August 1991) was an American fighter pilot who volunteered to fly for the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II. He was one of 11 American[1] pilots who flew with Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940, thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939–45 campaign star.[2]
World War II
[edit]Brown joined the Royal Canadian Air Force[3] claiming to be of Canadian nationality on 9 September 1939[4] and was posted to No. 112 Squadron RCAF. On arrival in England he was sent to No. 5 OTU RAF Aston Down to convert to Hurricanes and then to No. 1 Squadron RCAF at RAF Northolt on 2 September 1940.
On 27 September 1940 he claimed a Dornier Do 17 destroyed and a shared Junkers Ju 88. On 5 October he was badly shot up in combat with Messerschmitt Bf 109s but nevertheless pursued one into cloud, being later credited with a 'damaged'. His own aircraft crashed on landing back at Northolt but he was uninjured.[5]
Brown transferred to the United States Army Air Forces on 25 May 1942. He was given the rank of lieutenant, later promoted captain, and held the rank of major when he retired. He remained in the service for 12 years after the end of World War II and after the war was involved with the Berlin Airlift and possibly served in Korea.[6]
Brown died in a hospital in Santa Maria, California[7] in August 1991.[8]
See also
[edit]- List of RAF aircrew in the Battle of Britain
- Non-British personnel in the RAF during the Battle of Britain
References
[edit]- ^ Battle of Britain – Roll of Honour
- ^ TracesOfWar.com – DePeyster Douw Brown
- ^ http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=105008;article=15751; Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Br-pilots".
- ^ "F/O D D Brown". Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=5887&forum=DCForumID6&archive=yes[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Genealogy, Ancestry and Family Tree Search".
- ^ "The Battle of Britain Historical Society Discussion Forum - depeyster brown". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
- 1915 births
- 1991 deaths
- De Peyster family
- Schuyler family
- American people of Dutch descent
- People from Santa Maria, California
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
- Royal Canadian Air Force officers
- Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of World War II
- The Few
- United States Air Force officers
- United States Army Air Forces officers
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II