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WING COMMANDER JOHN BROWN died on Saturday 14th July 2012 aged 79.
Details of John's career were kindly passed on by his wife Caroll, with their family being Amanda, Martin (grandson Mathew 8) and Rebecca (grandson Barnaby 3).
John joined the RAF at Cardington in 1951 and was commissioned in February 1952, progressing via Jurby and flying training in Ternhill and Merryfield in 1953 through to Chivenor and then on to 112 Squadron with its Vampire FB5 in the fighter bomber aircraft role at RAF Jever near Wilhelmshaven. 112 had reformed on 12th May, 1951 at RAF Fassberg with Vampire FB5 and moved to Jever and 122 Wing on 7th March, 1952. On 6th July, 1953 112 Sqn flew down to its next home and brand new 'clutch' airfield at Bruggen within 135 Wing (where John met Caroll).
During January 1954 the Sqn re-equipped with Canadair Sabre F.Mk4s in its revised pure day fighter role for two years and three months, leading up to conversion onto Hunter F.Mk4s in April, 1956. Subsequent they were disbanded on 31st May, 1957 when the Sandys Axe was swung with great rapidity in 2nd TAF. 112 Sqn would later have Bloodhound missiles between 1960 and 1975 in Yorkshire, Woodhall Spa and defending Episkopi [NB 112's distinctive 'shark's mouth' Sqn markings dated back to their Tomahawk's large intakes and some KG76 Bf-110s had used this motif even earlier].
In 1958 John was at Geilenkirchen and later on 33 Squadron at Middleton St George with Javelin FAW Mk 7 and 9s 1959-62. The sister Sqn then to 92 Sqn and Sqn Ldr Brian Mercer's time with their Blue Diamonds ahead of their move to Leconfield in May 1961. John had a short sojourn at Binbrook and then a formal switch to Air Traffic Control duties at Shawbury, before becoming an ATCO in 1963 for 4FTS Gnats and the Master Airfield at Valley. He spent a year in 1966 out at Labuan in Borneo before moving to St Mawgan in 1967. He was posted back on to the Shawbury staff from 1968-71. He was Sqn Ldr SATCO 1971-73 at Linton-on-Ouse then 1973-75 at Coltishall. From 1975 to 1978 he served at West Drayton and then moved as Station Commander Eastern Radar from 1978. As a Wg Cdr John moved in Jan80 to Biggin Hill's Officer & Aircrew Selection Board where he served uintil 1982 before being posted to NATS (formerly National Air Traffic Services Limited) from 1982 to 1984. John's final tour from 1984-88 was on the Selection Board, retiring in April, 1988. Beyond his service, John worked for many years for the Air Training Corps and Wing Headquarters.
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