Warrant Officer Robert 'Bob' Brown during his service with the RAF (Picture: RAF).

RAF

RAF trainee pilot organises Typhoon flypast for his WW2 veteran pilot great-uncle

A trainee RAF pilot has organised a Typhoon flypast for the funeral of his great-uncle, a 103-year-old RAF veteran pilot who flew bomber aircraft during the Second World War.

John Robert 'Bob' Brown, who flew Wellington bombers in World War II and was a veteran of Bomber Command and IX Squadron, was laid to rest on Monday.

A Typhoon from IX Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, conducted the flypast during a training sortie, as a tribute to one of their own.

Mr Brown's great-nephew said he was "exceptionally proud" of his great-uncle.

"I am about to start my training on the Texan aircraft and, following training, I hope to fly Typhoons on IX(B) Squadron to continue his legacy," he said.

As well as family and friends, RAF representatives attended the funeral and the pilot of the Typhoon conducting the flyover said it was "a great privilege as an IX Squadron pilot to honour one of our former pilots and Second World War hero in this way".

RAF Veteran Bob Brown during his 102nd birthday — 'Bob' Brown remained proud of his RAF service and was an honorary member of the IX Squadron association (Picture: RAF).

After joining the RAF Volunteer Reserve following the start of World War Two, Mr Brown was posted to IX Squadron.

But, on only his second operational mission, his aircraft was hit with enemy fire over Germany and crashed.

Then a sergeant, only Bob and the rear gunner, Sergeant Edwin Collins, survived and, while trying to evade the enemy, he was captured and taken prisoner.

Bob was held as a prisoner of war in numerous camps for more than four years, during which time he was promoted twice to become a warrant officer.

Warrant Officer Bob Brown during Remembrance service in 2019 — The RAF veteran continued to attend Remembrance events after he turned 100 (Picture: RAF).

After the camp was liberated at the end of the war, he was flown home to RAF Cosford with only two bags – one of which was half full of cigarettes.

Bob remained proud of his RAF service and would recite his most precious mottos: IX Squadron's "Per noctem volamus" motto – we fly by night – and the RAF's "Per ardua ad astra" motto, which means through adversity to the stars.

The RAF veteran frequently attended Remembrance events, even into his centenary years, and was an honorary member of the IX Squadron association.

He also took great pride that his great-nephew would be following in his footsteps more than 80 years later.