The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J W Brown

James Wood Brown of Broadmayne, Dorset was born in 1915, the son of James Wood Brown (1874-1966) and Clara Brown (nee Blazer 1883-1950). His mother was Dutch, two of her relatives perished in Auschwitz.

He joined 600 Squadron in June 1940 as an Air Gunner. During the Battle of Britain he took part in 16 operational flights, his colleagues gave him the nickname 'Tim'.

Shortly after this he retrained as a Sergeant Pilot.

He married Catherine Josephine Burton in January 1942 in Wigan, Lancashire.

Commissioned in May 1943, Brown was killed on 22nd November 1943 as a Pilot Officer with 158 Squadron, operating in Halifaxes from Lissett, Yorkshire.

He was killed whilst flying in Halifax II, HR977 NP-A of No 158 Sqn, which came down near Klein Berssen during a raid to Berlin.

Also lost were:

P/O LA Smith
Sgt. ST Hazel
Sgt. WJG Middleton
Sgt. JM Phillips
Sgt. JT Sykes

Brown was 28 years old and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

Image courtesy of 158 Squadron Association.