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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Brothers, Peter Malam |
| Date of birth: | September 30th, 1917 (Prestwich/Lancashire, Great Britain)
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| Date of death: |
December 18th, 2008
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| Nationality: |
British |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Service number 37668.
Born at Prestwich, Lancashire, he learned to fly at 16 and joined the RAF in 1936. He joined No. 32 Squadron flying Gauntlets at Biggin Hill and became a flight commander with the squadron in early 1939. By the outbreak of war the squadron had re-equipped with Hurricanes and he flew these throughout the Battle of Britain, moving to No 257 Squadron in September 1940. Four months later he was rested as a instructor at No 55 OTU at Aston Down but a month later was sent to CFS to undertake a course. In June he was promoted Squadron Leader and appointed to form No 457 Squadron at Baginton. A year later he took command of No 602 Squadron, which at that time was based in Scotland but moved south briefly to take part in the Dieppe landings in August 1942.
In October 1942, he was leading the Tangmere Wing before being rested at No 52 and then No 61 OTU as Chief Flying Instructor. He returned to operations as Wing Leader of the Exeter Wing in April 1944, constisting of six squadrons, scattered over various airfields and difficult to control. Brothers split the Wing into two. But prior to D-Day he took over as Wing Leader of the Culmhead Wing. In October he attended US Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His final score at the end of the war was 16 confirmed destroyed.
After the war he went on to hold a number of senior command posts before he retired in 1973 to set up his own company. He has also been a member/officer of various bodies and appeared in a number of TV documentaries about WW2, the Spitfire and the Battle of Britain.
Promotions:
March 23th, 1936: Acting Pilot Officer (P)
January 27th, 1937: Pilot Officer
October 27th, 1938: Flying Officer
March 2nd, 1939: Acting Flight Lieutenant
September 3th, 1940: Flight Lieutenant (WS)
June, 1941: Acting Squadron Leader (T)
December 1st, 1941: Squadron Leader
October 1942: Act Wg Cdr
January 2nd, 1943: Squadron Leader (WS)
July 1st, 1945: Wing Commander (T)
August 5th, 1946: Squadron Leader
July 1st, 1952: Wing Commander
January 1st, 1959: Group Captain
October 19th, 1965: Acting Air Commodore
July 1st, 1966: Air Commodore
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (DFC)
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Rank:
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Acting Flight Lieutenant
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Awarded on:
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September 13th, 1940
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Action:
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Citation:
"During an offensive patrol in August, 1940,this officer's flight encountered about one hundred enemy aircraft. He led the flight in attack against them, but before this could be pressed home, he was himself attacked by a number of Messerschmitt 110’s. Turning to meet them, he found himself in a stalled position, he spun out of it and immediately sighted and engaged a Dornier 215 which he shot down. Later in the day he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109. Altogether Flight Lieutenant Brothers has destroyed seven enemy aircraft. He has at all times displayed great courage and initiative.”
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (DFC)
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Rank:
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Acting Wing Commander
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Unit:
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Reserve of Air Force Officers, Royal Air Force
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Awarded on:
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June 15th, 1943
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Action:
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Citation:
"This officer has displayed outstanding keenness and efficiency. Within recent months he has led a wing in many operations and, by his skilful work and personal example, has contributed in a large measure to the high standard of operational efficiency of the formation. He has displayed great devotion to duty.”
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Details:
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Awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
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DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)
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Rank:
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Wing Commander
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Unit:
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Reserve of Air Force Officers, Royal Air Force
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Awarded on:
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November 3rd, 1944
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Action:
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Citation:
"Wing Commander Brothers is a courageous and outstanding leader whose splendid example has inspired all. He has led large formations of aircraft on many missions far into enemy territory. Much of the success obtained can be attributed to Wing Commander Brothers brilliant leadership. He has destroyed 13 enemy aircraft.”
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