*BROWN, 2nd Lieutenant Sydney MacGillvary - Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 8 February 1919 - American (student, Princeton University, though home was likely in Brooklyn, New York) but on lists of \"Canadian born officers\". Attached to French Army for some time and served with Franco-Serbian detachment. Reported to No.29 Squadron, 3 July 1918; still there as of 7 November 1918. On 28th October, when on an offensive patrol, this officer, in company with three other machines, attacked nine Fokkers; three of the latter were destroyed, 2nd Lieutenant Brown accounting for one. In addition, he has three hostile aircraft and one balloon to his credit. He is a fearless and intrepid officer. NOTE: Public Record Office Air 1/1580 has recommendation forwarded by Second Brigade to Headquarters, Royal Air Force, 31 October 1918. On the 12 September 1918 when on Offensive Patrol southeast of Bailleul with three other machines, a fight took place with four Fokkers. All four were destroyed, Lieutenant Brown accounting for one. On the 19 August 1918 when on a similar duty in the same neighbourhood with four other machines, three DFW two-seaters and three Halberstadt two-seaters were engaged. Of the two machines shot down, one DFW fell to Lieutenant Brown. On the 28 August 1918 when on Offensive Patrol in the Menin area with four other machines, a large formation of Fokkers was encountered. Lieutenant Brown accounted for one of the three destroyed. On the 27 October 1918 when on Offensive Patrol east of Tournai with three other machines, Lieutenant Brown shot down a hostile balloon. On the 29 October 1918 when on Offensive Patrol east of Avelghem with three other machines, a fight took place with nine Fokkers. Three were destroyed, Lieutenant Brown getting one of them.

JOHN STANLEY F/O(BA) J22188. From Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Killed in Action Jul 3/44. #148 Squadron (Trusty). Halifax aircraft #JP 292 was shot down at night over Poland. Six of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed. Flying Officer Bomb Airner Brown is buried in the Belgrade British Military Cemetery, Yugoslavia.

JOHN HENRY F/O(P) J8793. From Leamington, Ontario. Killed in Action Apr 11/43 age 26. #139 Jamaica Squadron (Si Placet Necamus). Mosquito aircraft lost during a sortie over enemy-held territory. The RAF navigator, F/O G. Pounder, was also killed. Flying Officer Pilot Brown is buried in the Ghent City Cemetery, East Flanders, Belgium.

JOHN DANIEL P/O(AG) C193. From Calgary, Alberta. Killed in Action Mar 23/44 age 25. #426 Thunderbird Squadron (On Wings of Fire). Target - Frankfurt, Germany. Please Please see Hetherington C. for casualty list and flight detail. Pilot Officer Air Gunner Brown has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.

JOHN ARMAGH CHARLES F/O(BA) J28206. From Vancouver, British Columbia. Killed in Action May 12/44 age 30. #427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certas). Target - Boulogne, France. Please see Sinclair G.E. for casualty list and flight detail. Flying Officer Bomb Aimer Brown is buried in the Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, Pas de Calais, France.

JAMES MOYES P/O(BA) J22403//R115333. From Toronto, Ontario. Killed Jun 20/43 age 22. #24 Operational Training Unit (Cum Labore Adjuvantes). P/O Brown lost his life when Whitley aircraft #EB 349 crashed near Stratford-on-Avon. Pilot Officer Bomb Aimer Brown is buried in the Stratford-On-Avon Cemetery, Evesham Road, Warwickshire, England.

JAMES HENRY SGT(P) R155559. From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Killed Jun 24/43 age 20. #15 Advanced Flying Unit. Oxford aircraft crashed. Please see Sgt D.H. Benson for casualty list and flight detail. Sergeant Pilot Brown is buried in the Botley Cemetery, North Hinksey, Berkshire, England.

JAMES E. P/O(AG) J42283. From Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A. Killed Sep 1/44 age 19. #1659 Heavy Conversion Unit. Halifax aircraft took off with one engine on fire and crashed one mile from the aerodrome at Topcliffe, Yorkshire. Pilot Officer Air Gunner Brown is buried in the Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.

JAMES ANGUS WO1(NB) R96395. From Renfrew, Ontario. Killed Apr 7/44 age 22. #4271 Squadron. WO Brown was killed when his Dakota aircraft FZ 552 crashed during glider towing training at Collingbourne Kingston, Wiltshire, England. Warrant Officer Class I Navigator/Bomb Aimer Brown is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey, England.

JAMES WO1(WAG) R116904. From London, Ontario. Killed Aug 3/45 age 22. #43 Ferry Unit. Boston aircraft #BZ 478 lost enroute to Africa. Warrant Officer Class I Wireless Operator Air Gunner Brown is buried in the Knightsbridge225War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.'

IAN MACDONNELL SUTHERLAND F/O(P) C1450. From Victoria, British Columbia. Killed Aug 14/41 age 21. #3 Service Flying Training School, Calgary, Alberta. Anson aircraft crashed. Please see Greenfield F.W. for casualty list and flight detail. Flying Officer Pilot Brown is buried in the Royal Oak Burial Park at Victoria, British Columbia.

HARRY LYLE FS(AG) R125229. From Kingston, Ontario. Killed in Action Feb 20/43 age 20. #467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster aircraft missing. Please see Komaiko W.K. for casualty list and flight detail. Flight Sergeant Air Gunner Brown has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.

HAROLD EARL F/L(P) J8965. From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Killed in Action Sep 28/44 age 21. #627 Squadron (At first sight). Mosquito aircraft KB 366 missing from a trip to Kaikbrslautern, Germany. Flight Lieutenant Pilot Brown is buried in the War Cemetery at Rheinberg, Germany.

HAROLD ALEXANDER FS(OB) R67850. From Chatham, Ontario. Killed in Action Aug 6/42 age 21. #419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Essen, Germany. Please see MacAulay W.J. for casualty list and flight detail. Flight Sergeant Observer Brown was buried at Bedburg, Germany, exhumed, and reburied in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany.

DUNCAN STEWART P/O(BA) J94612//R186884. From Headingly, Manitoba. Killed in Action Dec 18/44 age 20. #158 Squadron (Strength In Unity). Halifax aircraft #NR 233 crashed at Brabant, Belgium during a trip to Duisburg, Germany. P/Os E.A. Rhude and J.V. Grant were also killed. Three other Canadians and one member of the crew, not Canadian, slightly injured. Pilot Officer Bomb Aimer Brown is buried in Brussels Town Cemetery, Evere-lesBruxelles, Belgium.

DOUGLAS STEWART P/O(P) J17621. From Leaside, Ontario. Killed in Action Jun 15/43 age 21. #106 Squadron (Pro Libertate). Target - Oberhausen, Germany. Lancaster aircraft #R 5551 was shot down by 0.Lt Geiger in a German ME-110 night fighter aircraft using upward firing guns. P/O Brown attempted to land his damaged aircraft in a field at Tenet, Holland but hit some trees and the aircraft was destroyed. Six RAF members of the crew were also killed. One Canadian, P/O R. Pegg bailed out and was taken Prisoner of War. 0.Lt Geiger was a German night fighter ace credited with destroying 53 four engine aircraft. He was killed on Sep 29/43. There were two #106 Sqdn. aircraft lost this night. Please see FS J.V. Sweeney for detail. Ex P/O Pegg of Oxbow, Saskatchewan had this to say about the trip, "We were hit by a night fighter so bad that Doug Brown ordered a bail out. I grabbed the escape hatch on the floor and jumped with two guys right behind me ready to go. No one else got out, and I don't know why, as Doug kept the aircraft fairly level when I got out. I landed O.K. and the Lanc. crashed a mile from me which was just over a mile north of Arnhem. We had an extra navigator on board for experience. This was not usual, as pilots usually went along for their first trip. All seven of my crew were buried in a small cemetery in Arnhem. P/O Brown's parents had his remains moved to the Groesbeek Canadian Cemetery." Pilot Officer Pilot Brown was buried in the Moscowa Cemetery, Arnhem, Holland, exhumed, and reburied in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland.

DOUGLAS HAROLD FS(AG) R214565. From Hamilton, Ontario. Killed in Action Jan 7/45 age 20. #405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Target - Munich, Germany. Please see Scott N.L. for casualty list and flight detail. Flight Sergeant Air Gunner Brown is buried in the War cemetery at Durnbach, Germany.

DAVID CAMPBELL LAC(P) R115900 - under training. From Halifax, Nova Scotia. Killed Aug 19/42 age 19. #11 Service Flying Training School, Yorkton, Saskatchewan. LAC Brown lost his life when Cessna Crane #7935 crashed two miles north-west of the aerodrome at Yorkton. Leading AirCraftman Pilot Brown is buried in the Beechwood Cemetery at Ottawa, Ontario.

CLEMENT HECTOR P/O(P) J87009. From St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Killed in Action Sep12/44 age 29. #100 Squadron (Sarang Tebaun Jangan Duolok). Lancaster aircraft #ME 828 missing from a trip to Frankfurt, Germany, This was P/O Brown's second operation. Pilot Officer Pilot Brown is buried in the War Cemetery at Durnbach, Germany.

BROWN, F/L Alan Coatsworth (37033) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.53 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette dated 23 July 1940. Born in Winnipeg, 9 August 1913; educated there; appointed Acting Pilot Officer on Probation in RAF, 19 October 1934; to No.26 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, Catterick, 14 October 1935. Promoted to Flying Officer, 19 April 1937; to Acting Flight Lieutenant, 17 September 1938; confirmed as Flight Lieutenant, 1939; Squadron Leader as of 1 September 1940; Wing Commander as of 1 March 1942. Reverted in rank after the war but promoted from Squadron Leader to Wing Commander, 1 July 1947. Group Captain, 1 July 1954. No citation other than "for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations". Specifically listed in AFRO 1292/41 dated 7 November 1941 as a Canadian in the RAF who had been decorated as of that date. AFRO 2069/42 dated 18 December 1942 (reporting DSO) also describes him as a Canadian in the RAF. Air Ministry Bulletin 1203 refers. Photo PL-15709 taken after investiture shows W/C A.C. Brown, DSO, DFC (CAN/RAF) and F/O Ernest F. Paige, DFC. PL-15711 (ex UK-3476 dated 25 March 1943) taken after investiture, with his wife and her mother, Mrs. R. Card of Edinburgh; PL-15715 is another shot of Paige and W/C A.C. Brown. PL-15716 is of Brown alone. Public Records Office Air 2/6075 (Non-Immediate Awards, Air Component of the Field Force, 1940) has recommendation dated 29 May 1940: // On May 13th, 1940, this officer as the pilot of an aircraft carried out [an] important and successful reconnaissance over strongly defended enemy areas. In spite of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire which resulted in his aircraft being severely damaged and his rear gunner being wounded, he continued the reconnaissance. His personal disregard of danger, his determination, and his skill in the handling of his damaged aircraft were largely responsible for the success of this reconnaissance which obtained valuable information. // This was further refined for submission to Air Ministry Honours and Awards Committee: // On 13th May, 1940, in spite of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire which resulted in his aircraft being severely damaged and his air gunner being wounded, this officer successfully completed a reconnaissance over strongly defended enemy areas. His personal disregard of danger, his determination, and his skill in handling his damaged aircraft were largely responsible for his success in obtaining valuable information. // BROWN, W/C Alan Coatsworth (37033) - Distinguished Service Order - No.407 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette 4 December 1942. Citation in Air Ministry Bulletin 8639. // This officer, by his personal tact and example, has been largely responsible for the sound morale and efficiency of his squadron. He has led the squadron on all its heavy raids including one on Bremen on the night of June 25th. His calm demeanour under all circumstances, his organizing ability and determination to press home the attack have set a magnificent example. Wing Commander Brown has displayed outstanding leadership and devotion to duty and has personally obtained five hits on enemy merchant vessels. // NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9606 has the original recommendation dated 13 October 1942 and prepared by the Commanding Officer, RAF Station Bircham Newton: // This officer took over command of No.407 Squadron in January this year, when the squadron's morale was at its lowest, and just before they were withdrawn from the front line to reform. // By his personal tact and example, he pulled his squadron together in an extremely efficient manner, and as a result, although they had in the mean time been on three operational trips at Thorney Island, they came back to full operation [sic] duties on 1st April, and were moved to this station. // They very soon met with a number of successes, and since the 1st April, 78 individual attacks have been made on ships, out of which 33 were claimed as having been hit, and 25 have been officially acknowledged by Headquarters, Coastal Command as being damaged, seriously damaged or a total loss. // As Commanding Officer of the squadron, this officer cannot be expected, and in fact is discouraged from taking part in as many operations as some of the more junior crews. Nevertheless he has carried out 19 operational trips - 15 by night and four by day - and it has been officially acknowledged by Headquarters, Coastal Command that five direct hits have been obtained, in addition to one near miss. // Wing Commander Brown has led his squadron on all their bigger raids, including that on Bremen on the night of 25th/26th June. On all occasions when weather conditions are doubtful, or when heavy opposition is to be expected, he insists on going with them. // By his calm demeanour under all circumstances, his organizing ability, his determination to press home his attacks, and his efforts to ensure that all those serving under him were equally determined, he set a magnificent example. In addition to this, if there is anything new to be tried out, he himself has always done it. A typical example of this is the recent innovation of the "rooster" aircraft, at which he was so successful. // To the great loss, not only of his squadron, but of his Station, this officer has now been posted to the Staff College, and I cannot too strongly recommend that the magnificent services he has rendered as Officer Commanding, No.407 Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron be acknowledged by an award as below. // BROWN, W/C Alan Coatsworth (37033) - Mention in Despatches - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1943. // BROWN, G/C Alan Coatsworth (37033) - Officer, Order of the British Empire - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1946. // BROWN, W/C Alan Coatsworth (37033) - Order of Leopold with Palme - awarded as per London Gazette dated 27 June 1947. // BROWN, W/C Alan Coatsworth (37033) - Croix de Guerre (1940) with Palm - awarded as per London Gazette dated 27 June 1947. // RCAF Press Release No. 824 dated 24 September 1942, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates, reads: // When a young civil engineer left Canada in 1934 to follow his profession in England, he little thought that eight years later he would find himself commander of a Coastal Command of the Royal Canadian Air Force squadron, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a veteran of action over Germany, the Low Countries and France. // Such is the record of W/C A. Coatsworth Brown, DFC, commanding officer of the famous Canadian “Demon” Squadron. A calm, quiet-spoken man, W/C. Brown is the fearless leader of a dare-devil squadron which has sunk a tremendous amount of enemy tonnage since beginning operations about a year ago. // It is extremely difficult to get this quiet ace pilot to talk about himself, although his boys go overboard in praise of their “wingco” Not a man in the squadron hesitates to inform all and sundry that their commander is “a wizard pilot”, absolutely fearless”, and, even more significant “a damn good man to work for and with”. // Born in Winnipeg, son of the late E.C. Brown, of Richmond, Yorkshire and the former Mary Coatsworth, of Bernard Castle Durham, W/C Brown studied at Kelvin Technical High School in his home town before attending the University of Manitoba. Graduating in 1934 with the degree of Bachelor of Science, the young civil engineer sailed almost immediately for England where he expected to begin his life work. // But within a few months, young Brown put all thoughts of engineering behind him and accepted an acting pilot officer’s commission in the Royal Air Force and began his flying career. Completing his training and confirmed in his rank a year later, Brown served on several stations and then was posted to a course at the School of Army Co-operation in 1936. Upon completion of the course, he became a flight-commander at the school and was promoted to Flying Officer’s rank. In late 1937, the young Canadian was named adjutant of a newly-formed army co-operation squadron and the following year became a flight commander with the rank of Flight-Lieutenant. // With the outbreak of war, Brown went to France with his Blenheim Bomber squadron and saw action throughout the entire evacuation period, leaving that country on May 19, 1940. His first jobs were daylight reconnaissance flights over Germany, followed by action over the Low Countries when the Nazis treacherously invaded that area. // One daylight reconnaissance down the Albert Canal brought him the Distinguished Flying Cross – and almost disaster. Heavy anti-aircraft fire from Bofors gun shot up his aircraft and completely disabled one engine but Brown brought his “kite” safely back to its base. He recalls that on that flight, his rear gunner who was wounded, was a fellow-Canadian then AC1, now Flight Sergeant Cavett, of Vancouver. // During the actual evacuation of Dunkerque, Brown, with the rest of his squadron, was lending aerial support to the ground and naval forces when he ran into a heavy barrage of flak. Dodging and twisting to avoid the concentrated fire, he was obliged to make a forced landing on the Goodwin Sands, a large sand bank in the English Channel. Luckily for him and his crew, the action took place at low tide – the only time his improvised landing field was not submerged. However, none of the crew was hurt and they were later picked up by one of the evacuation boats returning from Dunkerque. // During the remainder of 1940, Brown took part in raids on refineries and oil installations in Belgium and Holland, and attacks on shipping at Brest, becoming a squadron-leader in August. Early in 1941, the young veteran became controller of an R.C.A.F Group with the rank of Wing Commander and after eight months was given command of a Canadian squadron then in process of formation. That squadron is now the famous Demons of Coastal Command. // The wingco has so imbued his squadron with the dash and ‘elan’ displayed by him throughout his service in this war, that the Demons are known far and wide for their exploits. Seldom do they go out on a “Strike” without some member coming back with a victory over an enemy vessel. The spirit of the squadron is further exemplified by sinking two ships in one attack, a feat unheard of previously in Coastal Command history. // In 1936, he married Miss Ena May Storey, a Scotch girl, and they had planned a trip to Canada when the outbreak of war intervened. They are still looking forward to the trip, for Mrs. Brown has never seen her husband’s native land. W/C Brown and his wife have travelled on the Continent and Mrs. Brown lived for some years in New Zealand. // The wing commander’s mother, Mrs. E.C. Brown, lives on Sherburn Street, Winnipeg, with his sister, Betty, and another sister, Mrs. H.H. Moore, also lives in that city. // It is only after meeting this blonde, quiet C.O., that one realizes his strength and determination to do a good job, --- a determination shared by every member of the squadron. Officers and NCOs alike, each man tries to live up to the wingco’s standard, which is a very good explanation of the tremendous success of the RCAF Demon Squadron.