Alfred John Brown
Captain Alfred John Brown was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.
Early life
Alfred John Brown was apparently from Sussex, England, as evidenced by his service in the Royal Sussex Regiment.World War I
On 3 March 1917, second lieutenant A. J. Brown was seconded from the Royal Sussex Regiment to the Royal Flying Corps. He became a flight commander in No. 24 Squadron in December 1917.On 11 January 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant and stayed seconded. By the date of his promotion, he was already a successful aerial warrior with two victories to his credit while flying an Airco DH.5. He would score five more quick victories in early March 1918 while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. On 15 March, he was withdrawn from combat for a rest.
His aerial victory exploits were not the only feats responsible for his earning the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 22 June 1918:
Following the Military Cross award, he would upgrade to flying a Sopwith Dolphin for No. 23 Squadron and score one final victory. His ending victory total for the war was two enemy planes destroyed, and six sent down out of control.
On 31 August 1918, he was one of three members of his patrol that were shot down. He survived the crash landing.
List of aerial victories
| No. | Date/Time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
| 1 | 21 September 1917 @ 1705 hours | Airco DH.5 serial number B362 | Albatros D.V | Destroyed | Between Anneux and Rumilly, Pas-de-Calais, France | |
| 2 | 10 December 1917 @ 1200 hours | Airco DH.5 s/n B4918 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Honnecourt-sur-Escaut, France | |
| 3 | 6 March 1918 @ 1015 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Saint Quentin, France | Victory shared with Andrew Cowper |
| 4 | 11 March 1918 @ 1315 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | German reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | East of Bellenglise, France | Victory shared with Herbert Richardson, Ronald Mark, two other pilots |
| 5 | 11 March 1918 @ 1815 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | Ribemont, France | |
| 6 | 12 March 1918 @ 1840 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | German airplane | Destroyed | Southwest of Saint Quentin, France | |
| 7 | 13 March 1918 @ 1245 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C9494 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Bellecourt, France | |
| 8 | 23 August 1918 @ 1859 hours | Sopwith Dolphin s/n D3732 | DFW two-seater | Driven down out of control | Between Maricourt and Suzanne, France | Victory shared with two other pilots |
Post World War I
A. J. Brown MC was confirmed in rank as a captain in the Administrative Branch effective 28 November 1918.On 12 March 1919, Captain A. J. Brown MC "of the flying branch" resigned his commission because of poor health; however, he retained his rank.
On 2 May 1919, A. J. Brown MC resigned his commission in the Sussex Regiment because of illness, but kept the honorary rank of Lieutenant. However, on 16 May, this resignation was cancelled.
Nothing more is known of Alfred John Brown.