Brown SS

459 RAAF Squadron

Stephen Sidney Brown - Pilot

Awarded 1939-45 Italy Star

Service Number 428067

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Birca111 1944 Benghasi - Baltimore Aircraft

Crew - Left to right -

W/O Bert Lee Nav/Bomb Aimer;

W/O Steve Brown - Pilot

W/O Tommy Sherwin WAG

W/O Ernie Job - Turret Gunner

Stephen S. Brown's entry:

"I served ( as Pilot) in 459 Squadron from August 1944 to disbandment, under “Pete” Henderson and later C.E.Payne as Commanding Officers and Jim McHale and Bob Norman as Flight Commanders. In that time I flew 28 sorties with my crew: W/O Lee, W/O Job and W/O Sherwin."

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Date of Birth : 7.12.1921

Joined Aust. Military Forces 4.11.41 No. T20371

Discharged A.M.F. 28.9.42 - Rank - Signalman

Joined RAAF 9.10.42 - Rank A/C11 (428067)

Served as Guard at Colac GRS 4.11.42 - 7.12.42

Trained at Somers (Vic) 7.12.42 - 3.3.43

Flying Training at Western Junction (Tas).

3.3.43 - 6.5.43 - to embarkation, Sydney.

Trained at Brantford (Ontario) 13.6.43 - 15.10.43 - Obtained wings - Graduated Sgt.Pilot

Trained at Sommerside (Prince Edward Island - Canada) - 28.10.43 - 19.12.43 - Graduated to GRS Pilot

Embarked Halifax 30.1.44 to Brighton (England) 1.2.44

Embarked Liverpool 16.3.44 to Port Said (ME) 25.3.44

Trained at OTU Gianaclis (Egypt) 5.6.44

28.7.44 Graduated to Hudsons and Baltimores, joined 459 Squadron 11.8.44

459 Squadron - Birca111 Benghasi 1944 - Baltimores -

Stephen Brown then W/O Pilot "Writing Home".

NOTE: Steel bed frame to allow for blow-torching of

bed bugs and other annoyances.

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Stephen Brown - Pilot 459 Squadron - Birca111 1944

Crew Accommodation - 1 crew (4) per tent -

tins filled with sand to stop tent being blown away in sand storms.

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Flew 28 missions in Mediterranean and Aegean

Started as SGT.Pilot to S/SGT to WO on 1.4.45

Discharged as O.R. 1.11.45

Squadron Decommissioned 9.2.45

Shipped to England - Chevinor, North Devon to train on Wellingtons but war ended before operational.

Returned to Australia via Brighton

Discharged 14.12.45 - Rank - Flying Officer

Awarded 1939-45 Italy Star

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Stephen Sidney BROWN