Sydney MacGillvary Brown

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_MacGillvary_Brown

Sydney MacGillvary Brown was an author and associate professor of medieval history at Duquesne University. He originally gained renown as a World War I flying ace. He attended Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship to earn his Ph.D before going on to a distinguished academic career.

World War I service

Brown joined the Royal Flying Corps in July 1917. On 4 July 1918, he was assigned to 29 Squadron, which was operating Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as at the time. He destroyed a Fokker D.VII on 12 August 1918, a DFW reconnaissance plane on the 19th, another Fokker D.VII on 28 September, an observation balloon on 27 October 1918, and a third D.VII on the 28th.

Honors and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

2nd Lieut. Sydney MacGillvary Brown. (FRANCE)

On 28 October, when on offensive patrol, this officer, in company with three other machines, attacked nine Fokkers; three of the latter were destroyed, 2nd Lieut. Brown accounting for one. In addition, he has three hostile aircraft and one balloon to his credit. He is a fearless and intrepid officer.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1919 (31170/2036)

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A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sydney MacGillvary Brown graduated from Bowdoin College in 1916. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in July 1917 and received a promotion to temporary Second Lieutenant (on probation) on 12 January 1918. Posted to 29 Squadron, he scored 5 victories flying the S.E.5a.

A Rhodes Scholar, Brown received his doctorate from Oxford University. During World War II he served with the U.S. Naval Reserve as an aerial navigation officer with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1947 he accepted a position as associate professor of medieval history at Duquesne University and later wrote several books on medieval history, including Medieval Europe and A General Outline of Medieval History, which became widely used as textbooks in schools and colleges.

Brown died in 1952 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was 56.