Wing Commander Allan Runciman Brown was an Australian

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with five aerial victories. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, he was a

Wing Commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...

for the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

. He was born on 24 April 1895, and in civilian life, Brown was a draper in Launceston, Australia. Brown originally served as an artillery officer, before becoming a pilot. He was assigned to No. 68 Squadron RFC/1 Squadron AFC in Egypt. There he was teamed with Lieutenant

Garfield Finlay Edgar Garfield Finlay, (7 September 1893 – 18 April 1958) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by deat ...

as his observer/gunner on Bristol F2b Fighters; Brown's gunner for four of his five triumphs was Finlay. Brown's modus operandi was to force enemy planes into landing, and then destroy them on the ground with bombs and bullets. He scored his first win on 3 May 1918 near Suweilah, and his last one on 22 August 1918 at

Ramleh Ramla or Ramle ( he, רַמְלָה, ''Ramlā''; ar, الرملة, ''ar-Ramleh'') is a city in the Central District of Israel. Today, Ramle is one of Israel's mixed cities, with both a significant Jewish and Arab populations. The city was f ...

. He also carried out successful ground attacks on cavalry and anti-aircraft guns.

Honours and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC):

Notes

References

* * * 1895 births 1964 deaths Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Australian Air Force officers Australian World War I flying aces Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Royal Air Force officers British Army personnel of World War I Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II {{Australia-mil-bio-stub