The last of the 136 New Zealand airmen officially credited as a veteran of Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain has died. Bernard Walter Brown flew Spitfires with No. 610 Squadron at Biggin Hill, and then moved to No. 72 Squadron in September 1940. He shot down an Me109 before being shot down himself. He recovered and continued flying after the Battle, and in 1944 like so many Kiwis in the RAF he transferred to the RNZAF. Bernie was 99. RIP
By: 1batfastard - 7th February 2017 at 16:49
Hi All,
He had an extraordinary RAF career when you consider what he was told when converting to the Spitfire
” Here’s the book of pilot notes, learn it get up there and fly it.”
That is all you need to know about the mans courage during the BoB. RIP Mr Brown and thank you.
Geoff.
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th February 2017 at 11:55
I’m not being difficult here, but can we please change the title to something like “New Zealand loses last Battle of Britain pilot”, or similar – as it stands it is very misleading.
RIP to the pilot concerned.
By: The Bump - 7th February 2017 at 11:01
I assume BoB veterans survive in other countries.
If so, the title could easily be misconstrued.
Not a big deal, but clarity is never a bad thing.
Very well put John. I can understand how people could be confused as they scroll down.
By: 43-2195 - 7th February 2017 at 02:30
We did lose a very special person. We lost bernard.
By: Mark12 - 6th February 2017 at 08:52
….If so, the title could easily be misconstrued….
The Mods were requested to edit the title at the time but declined.
I, and I suspect many others, thought we the British had lost some very special people.
Mark
By: J Boyle - 6th February 2017 at 01:28
I assume BoB veterans survive in other countries.
If so, the title could easily be misconstrued.
Not a big deal, but clarity is never a bad thing.
By: Piston - 5th February 2017 at 22:52
I give up on this pedantic forum…
You stuck it for such a long time, but it’s definitely getting worse. ATB.
By: Dave Homewood - 5th February 2017 at 21:54
I give up on this pedantic forum…
By: Creaking Door - 5th February 2017 at 16:35
No. The last New Zealand Battle-of-Britain pilot has died…
…we really need the thread title amended.
(Didn’t this get discussed in another thread; or did I just imagine that?)
By: maffie - 5th February 2017 at 16:06
Has Geoff Wellum died as well? Don’t remember seeing that notice.
By: DavidIsby - 5th February 2017 at 03:29
By: hawker1966 - 4th February 2017 at 19:31
Very Sad news as another hero leaves us RIP
By: Piston - 4th February 2017 at 19:15
Yes but a VERY important part for us, he deserves the respect when talking about the part he played.
The article isn’t disrespectful at all is it? Referring to him as Mr Brown throughout (apart from the opening paragraph) surely illustrates that.
By: paul1867 - 4th February 2017 at 15:21
From Wiki (simples)
613 Squadron were in the course of converting to Lysanders at RAF Hawkinge when they flew in support of the Allied garrison in the Siege of Calais. On 26 May, along with the squadron’s Lysanders, six Hectors dive bombed German positions around Calais and on the following day, attempted to drop supplies to the troops, unaware that they had already surrendered; two Hectors were lost.[2]
(2) Owen Gordon Thetford, Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918, Putnam, 1962 (p.304)
By: Creaking Door - 4th February 2017 at 13:44
Just to divert the thread back to the important subject matter…
…were the RAF really using Hawker Hectors as dive-bombers (over France?) in May 1940?
By: Creaking Door - 4th February 2017 at 13:43
To quote:
“On May 26, 1940, Mr Brown, a former postman, was flying one of six Hectors detailed to dive-bomb a gun-emplacement…”
I doubt whether, any ‘Mr Brown’, a former postman or not, would have been doing anything of the sort!
Obviously this is no criticism whatsoever of Flight-Lieutenant Brown, or his service to this, or his own, country; it just seems to be another unfortunate small slide in the standards of reporting in newspapers (or the media in general).
I suppose it is all related to the time available (and the general unfamiliarity with military matters); it must be very difficult to get the rank of an individual correct at different times during their service career but surely it is better to just say ‘Brown’ that ‘Mr Brown’?
By: paul1867 - 4th February 2017 at 11:50
He was a Flt Lt for a small portion of it.
Yes but a VERY important part for us, he deserves the respect when talking about the part he played.
By: John Green - 4th February 2017 at 11:16
The convention is or, used to be that only ‘field’ rank titles followed you into ‘Civvie St’. In the army that meant that ‘field’ rank began with Major. Hence lots of retired Majors or Lieutenant Colonels or, full Colonels and above.
The Navy I think, begins with Commander and above – don’t know about the RAF – probably Wing Commander.
Anyway, we give thanks for Flt. Lt Brown’s help. It was invaluable.
By: Piston - 4th February 2017 at 10:54
He was a mister for his entire life. He was a Flt Lt for a small portion of it.
By: Creaking Door - 4th February 2017 at 10:40
Odd that that obituary continually refers to Bernard Brown as ‘Mr Brown’ during his wartime service rather than ‘Flight-Lieutenant Brown’; surely that isn’t the convention?
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January 25, 2017 at 5:14 am