Mark Henry Brown
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Mark Henry Brown DFC* |
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Flight-Lieutenant M H Brown (left) and Pilot Officer Chetham of No. 1 Squadron RAF standing by the nose of a Hawker Hurricane Mark I at RAF Wittering, Huntingdonshire, England
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| Nickname(s) | Hilly |
| Born |
9 October 1911 Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | 12 November 1941 (aged 30) Killed in action over Sicily |
| Buried at | Catania War Cemetery, Sicily |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–1941 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Service number | 37904 |
| Commands held |
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| Battles/wars | |
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Wing Commander Mark Henry Brown DFC* (9 October 1911 – 12 November 1941), nicknamed Hilly, was the first Canadian pilot to become a fighter ace during World War II whilst serving with the Royal Air Force during the Battle of France. He fought in the Battle of Britain and was killed in action in November 1941 over Sicily.
Brown was a son of Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Brown, of Glenboro, Manitoba. Whilst working for the Bank of Montreal he learned to fly at Brandon Flying club and, after passing the required medical, left Canada to join the RAF in May 1936.
After completing his flight training, Pilot Officer Brown joined No. 1 Squadron in February 1937. He was promoted to Flying Officer in December 1938.
At the beginning of September 1939, Brown's squadron was deployed to France as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force. On 23 November 1939, Brown was credited with half a kill of a Dornier 17 whilst flying a Hawker Hurricane.
During the Battle of France in early 1940, Brown was involved in heavy fighting and on 20 April 1940 he claimed his first confirmed kill on a Messerschmitt Bf 109. He became the first Canadian pilot to reach ace status (five confirmed kills) on 14 May 1940 by claiming another Messerschmitt 109 destroyed. it is claimed that he was also the first Allied pilot to fly a captured German aircraft - a Messerschmitt Bf 109 - flying it to Britain where it was evaluated.
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