Flight Sgt Peter Brown
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Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died aged 96 in Maida Vale, West London, on December 17.
His funeral was set to be held on March 29 at Mortlake Crematorium. However, it is now being moved to a bigger venue after a successful search for mourners launched by Westminster Council, the RAF and historians.
Mr Brown left Jamaica to join the RAF in 1943, serving on Lancasters in 625 Squadron.
Typically, the 140-space capacity at Mortlake chapel would have provided room for a fitting send off.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-b1069922.html
His funeral was set to be held on March 29 at Mortlake Crematorium. However, it is now being moved to a bigger venue after a successful search for mourners launched by Westminster Council, the RAF and historians.
Mr Brown left Jamaica to join the RAF in 1943, serving on Lancasters in 625 Squadron.
Typically, the 140-space capacity at Mortlake chapel would have provided room for a fitting send off.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-b1069922.html
Flight Sergeant Peter Brown died aged 96 in Maida Vale, West London, on December 17.
His funeral was set to be held on March 29 at Mortlake Crematorium. However, it is now being moved to a bigger venue after a successful search for mourners launched by Westminster Council, the RAF and historians.
Mr Brown left Jamaica to join the RAF in 1943, serving on Lancasters in 625 Squadron.
Typically, the 140-space capacity at Mortlake chapel would have provided room for a fitting send off.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-b1069922.html
His funeral was set to be held on March 29 at Mortlake Crematorium. However, it is now being moved to a bigger venue after a successful search for mourners launched by Westminster Council, the RAF and historians.
Mr Brown left Jamaica to join the RAF in 1943, serving on Lancasters in 625 Squadron.
Typically, the 140-space capacity at Mortlake chapel would have provided room for a fitting send off.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-b1069922.html

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Funeral confirmed for St Clement Danes
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65200224
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65200224
The service is now due to be held at St Clement Danes, the RAF Central Church, in Westminster on 25 May at 11:00 BST, Westminster City Council announced.
Six-hundred spaces in the church will be reserved for the public, with priority given to those with a connection to Flt Sgt Brown.
Members of the public wishing to attend his funeral have been asked to email [email protected].
Six-hundred spaces in the church will be reserved for the public, with priority given to those with a connection to Flt Sgt Brown.
Members of the public wishing to attend his funeral have been asked to email [email protected].
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My father's best friend at the time I was born in 1953 was Johnny Blair who also was from Jamaica and served in WW2 and post war, like my father. Both were navigators. He became my god father although I don't recall ever meeting him. He's mentioned in this book on Caribbean volunteers:
And here is his particular story as he recalled it:
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.u ... ment/17279
This was taken in September 1953 in Holland with my mother's Dutch family. JB top right, my father kneeling in front of him with my mother and me.

And here is his particular story as he recalled it:
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.u ... ment/17279
This was taken in September 1953 in Holland with my mother's Dutch family. JB top right, my father kneeling in front of him with my mother and me.

I am mystified by how, if this gentleman flew operationally, he had no operational medals (France and Germany Star). I’m also annoyed at the media coverage - Channel 4 have just called him (several times) ‘field sergeant’, and he was not a pilot. Typically, members of the Caribbean community have trotted out the usual ‘they were ignored/forgotten/given nothing’ whines. I wonder if, had he not been from that community, we would have seen a full funeral at St Clement Danes, CAS in attendance, media coverage…
I am mystified by how, if this gentleman flew operationally, he had no operational medals (France and Germany Star). I’m also annoyed at the media coverage - Channel 4 have just called him (several times) ‘field sergeant’, and he was not a pilot. Typically, members of the Caribbean community have trotted out the usual ‘they were ignored/forgotten/given nothing’ whines. I wonder if, had he not been from that community, we would have seen a full funeral at St Clement Danes, CAS in attendance, media coverage…
I believe that you had to apply for the medals too? Many did not know this, certainly the many that settled in the London area having been put up in the Clapham Common Bunker from the Windrush return. That may be why he is missing them.
Lest we forget Flight Sergeant Peter Brown and the rest of his Caribbean colleagues who came to serve in world war 2 for the RAF.
The real truth about FS Peter Brown is here: https://www.caribbeanaircrew-ww2.com...316_113047.pdf
The reason why he doesn’t have the stars is because he only finished 1668 HCU for his Lancaster training in May 1945 and he was posted to 625 Sqn Lancasters on 13 May 45. That is 5 days after VE Day but several months before VJ Day. He flew Op DODGE missions bringing back the 8th Army from the Med and also Post Mortem flights. The latter being highly secretive flights against the German Air Defences to test the effectiveness of our countermeasures. So he got the 1939-1945 War Medal and the Defence Medal as seen on this brave soul’s coffin:

It is a shame that they did not add a Wireless Op/Air’s “Air Signaller Flying Badge” to his coffin too. The medals and the badge would have been his most prized of possessions for sure.

Rest easy Flight
The reason why he doesn’t have the stars is because he only finished 1668 HCU for his Lancaster training in May 1945 and he was posted to 625 Sqn Lancasters on 13 May 45. That is 5 days after VE Day but several months before VJ Day. He flew Op DODGE missions bringing back the 8th Army from the Med and also Post Mortem flights. The latter being highly secretive flights against the German Air Defences to test the effectiveness of our countermeasures. So he got the 1939-1945 War Medal and the Defence Medal as seen on this brave soul’s coffin:

It is a shame that they did not add a Wireless Op/Air’s “Air Signaller Flying Badge” to his coffin too. The medals and the badge would have been his most prized of possessions for sure.

Rest easy Flight
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