Pilot, war hero.
Born at Lac du Bonnet in 1909, son of Thomas A. Brown (1870-?) and Rachael Rubena “Ruby” Rose (1878-1957), brother of Francis Roy Brown, he gained fame as a bush pilot. He also operated a general store at Lac du Bonnet and other commercial enterprises. On 1 May 1937, she married Edythe Waters and they subsequently had two children: Robin Whetter and Hart Brown. During the Second World War, he commanded a Spitfire fighter wing and established the first airfield in Normandy after the D-Day invasion of Europe, in 1944. He received the OBE for his wartime exploits. He fell on some ice in Winnipeg, was taken to the Winnipeg General Hospital, lapsed into a coma, and died on 3 March 1959 and was buried in the Riverland Cemetery.
“Mother of MLA Mrs. Ruby Brown dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 June 1957, page 37.
“Flying brothers may become house rivals,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 August 1957, page 3.
“Frank Brown dies at 50,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 March 1959, page 13.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 March 1959, page 36.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 31 March 2023
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
