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  #1  
Old 24th June 2017, 09:26
Stirrick Stirrick is offline
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The Sultan of Sopley

Does anyone have any information on W/C John Lawrence Brown, MBE, the so-called 'Sultan of Sopley'.

He sounds a fascinating character but there appears to be very little information available on him.
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Old 25th June 2017, 08:41
Col Bruggy Col Bruggy is online now
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Re: The Sultan of Sopley

Hello,

Actually, 74440 John Laurance BROWN MBE(M), RAFVR.

From Alan Cooper's, "Air Battle For Arnhem" (p.25).

"Wing Commander John Laurence[sic] Brown who had in 1941 been senior controller at RAF Sopley and working with 604 Squadron, had been largely responsible for numerous enemy aircraft being destroyed for which he was awarded the MBE. He later became a senior controller in North Africa and at 'Market Garden' was put in charge of the whole operation.

See:
Air Battle For Arnhem.
Cooper,Alan C.
Barnsley:Pen & Sword Aviation,2012.
p.25.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/5568

Brown was also Mentioned in Despatches, twice (LG: 1/1/1943 [A/S/L], and 2/6/1943 [A/S/L])

Col.

Last edited by Col Bruggy; 25th June 2017 at 11:01.
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Old 6th July 2017, 18:09
Stirrick Stirrick is offline
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Re: The Sultan of Sopley

Thanks for replying Col.

All I've been able to find is:

Squadron Leader, RAFVR.
Head Controller, Sopley GCI site, Hampshire.
26 February,1941, guided what is considered the first successful night interception using GCI radar.
Credited with over 100 successful interceptions - more than twice as many as nearest rival.
Known as 'The Sultan of Sopley' or simply 'The Great Brown'.
Awarded MBE - 16 October 1941.
Commanded the first operational deployment of LWU's (Light Warning Units) at Arnhem in September,1944. Landed by Horsa glider with Airborne HQ on 17 September, but killed next day by a straffing Bf 109.

Not much for such an important character.
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Old 26th July 2017, 13:19
Stirrick Stirrick is offline
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Re: The Sultan of Sopley

Thanks Col

I'm amazed more is not widely known about this guy.

What I have is:

Squadron Leader, RAFVR
Head Controller, Sopley GCI site, Hampshire.
26 February,1941, controlled what is considered the first successful night interception using GCI radar.
Site was credited with over 100 successful interceptions - more than twice its nearest rival.
Known as 'The Sultan of Sopley' or simply 'The Great Brown'.
MBE - 16 October 1941
Served in the Middle East following TORCH.
Commanded the first operational deployment of mobile GCI sets - Light Warning Devices (LWD) - during the Arnhem landings. Landed in a Horsa Glider on 17 September,1944, but killed next day by straffing Bf 109.
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