Brian Carbury

Infobox Military Person
name=Brian John George Carbury
lived=1918–1962
placeofbirth= Wellington, New Zealand
placeofdeath= England


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
branch=
serviceyears=1937–1945
rank=Flight Lieutenant
commands=
battles=Battle of Britain
awards=DFC and Bar
laterwork=
Flight Lieutenant Brian John George Carbury, DFC and Bar (27 February 1918 – 1962) was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Air Force during World War II. [ [http://www.acesofww2.com/newzealand/NewZealand.htm Aces of New Zealand] Aces of WW2]

Biography

The convert|6|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on son of a Wellington, New Zealand vet, Brian John George Carbury was raised in Auckland where he attended King’s College independent secondary school from 1932 to 1934. He joined Farmers’ Trading Co. on leaving school, but sick of the job as a shoe salesman,citeweb|url=http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks05/0501181.txt|title=The Last Enemy - A Project Gutenberg of Australia eBook|publisher=gutenberg.net.au|author=Richard Hillary|date=December 2005|accessdate=2008-01-08] he headed to the United Kingdom in 1937 to join the Royal Navy. Being told he was too old, he joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer. [LondonGazette|issue=34463|startpage=7856|date=14 December 1937|accessdate=2008-01-08]

June 1938 - July 1940

Carbury joined No. 41 Squadron RAF in June 1938, his rank was confirmed on 27 September 1938, [LondonGazette|issue=34558|startpage=6201|date=4 October 1938|accessdate=2008-01-08] flying the Hawker Fury. In August 1939 he was posted to RAF Turnhouse near Edinburgh, Scotland with No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron as training officer, flying Spitfires. As an Auxiliary Air Force squadron, No. 603 were only part-time airmen doing other jobs during the day. But as war approached, the squadron was put on a full time footing, and Carbury was permanently attached from the outbreak of World War Two in September 1939. During the Phoney War, No. 603 gained pilots P.O Richard Hillary—later the author of "The Last Enemy;" and B. G. 'Stapme' Stapleton who shot down Franz von Werra, the only German PoW to escape and return to the Third Reich.

Scotland was far away from any "easy" targets in the south of England, but none the less was in range for Nazi Germany's long rang Luftwaffe bombers and reconnoissance sorties. On 16 October a section of 603 was scrambled and shot down a Junkers Ju-88 bomber into the North Sea east of Dalkeith, the first German aircraft to be shot down over British territory since 1918. Carbury probably destroyed an Heinkel He 111 on 7 December, and claimed a third share in the destruction of another He 111 during January 1940. Carbury was promoted to Flying Officer on 27 April 1940. [LondonGazette|issue=34849|startpage=2895|endpage=2896|date=14 May 1940|accessdate=2008-01-08]

August 1940 - October 1940

In light of Fighter Command's dire need for pilots in the south England, during August 1940 No. 603 redeployed to RAF Hornchurch, becoming active in the Battle of Britain from 27 August 1940.

Carbury claimed his first victory on August 29, a on 24 September 1940: [LondonGazette|issue=34951|startpage=5653|endpage=5654|date=24 September 1940|accessdate=2008-01-08]

cquote|"Air Ministry, 24th September, 1940.

ROYAL AIR FORCE

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned appointment and awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy : —

[...]

"Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Flying Officer Brian John George CARBURY (40288).

During operations on the North East coast Flying Officer Carbury led his section in an attack on two enemy aircraft. Both were destroyed. From 28th August, 1940, to 2nd September, 1940, he has, with his squadron, been almost continuously engaged against large enemy raids over Kent, and has destroyed eight enemy aircraft. Five of these were shot down during three successive engagements in one day.

Carbury continued his toll of victories in October, as the German's intensified their attacks on London—this meant due to distance that the Luftwaffe bombers had less fighter cover, while their fighters were given less manoeuvrability to protect the bomber formations. His first two victories were hence a Bf109 over the Thames Estuary on the 2nd, and another in southeast London on 7 October. Based at RAF Manston on the 10th, Carbury noticed three Bf 109's returning to northern France—leading the attack of three Spitfires, he shot the first in to the English Channel, and a second on to the beach at Dunkirk. On 14 October, he damaged a Junkers Ju 88.

The official end of the Battle of Britain came at the end of October, when Carbury was awarded a Bar to the DFC—one of fewer than five pilots given the double award for victories claimed during the period of the Battle of Britain. With destruction of fifteen enemy aircraft and another victory shared, Carbury was among the five top-scoring pilots in RAF Fighter Command. The award of the bar to his DFC was gazetted on 25 October 1940: [LondonGazette|issue=34978|startpage=6192|endpage=6193|date=25 October 1940|accessdate=2008-01-08]

cquote|"Air Ministry, 25th October, 1940."

ROYAL AIR FORCE.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following appointment and awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:—

[...]

"Awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross."

[...]

Flying Officer Brian John George CARBURY, D.F.C. (40288).

Flying Officer Carbury has displayed outstanding gallantry and skill in engagements against the enemy. Previous to 8th September, 1940, this officer shot down eight enemy aircraft, and shared in the destruction of two others. Since that date he has destroyed two Messerschmitt 109-5 and two Heinkel 113's, and, in company with other pilots of his squadron, also assisted in the destruction of yet another two enemy aircraft. His cool courage in the face of the enemy has been a splendid example to other pilots of his squadron.

December 1940 onwards

No. 603 Squadron and Carbury returned to Scotland on scheduled rotation in December 1940. On Christmas Day Carbury was scrambled to intercept a Junker Ju 88 reported off St Abb's Head, inflicting damage before the German aircraft turned for home. Early in 1941 Carbury was posted to be an instructor at the Central Flying School and then 58 OTU at Grangemouth, and did not fly operationally in combat again.

Post war

After leaving the RAF, he lived in England until his death in July 1962. In 1949, he along with three others, in a trial at Princes Risborough Magistrates' Court, was found guilty of two offences relating to the illegal export of Bristol Beaufighters to Palestine.cite news|url=http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/950/773/21731078w16/16!pdf_imm_z36z0FFO-1949-APR26-002-F|title=Aeroplanes flown to Palestine — Four pilots fined — Refuelled in Yugoslavia|work=The Times digital archive|publisher=Infotrac, Gale Group|date=26 April 1949|format=pdf, subscription required|page=Issue 51365, Page 2, Column B|accessdate=2008-01-08] Each man was fined a total of £100. The defence solicitor described the four as "stooges" of a fifth man who had remained in Palestine.

Hillary on Carbury

In his book "The Last Enemy," Richard Hillary said of Carbury:

Combat Record

References

External links

* [http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=carbury Brian Carbury Bio] at the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum
* [http://www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk/pilots/Ca-pilots.htm#CarburyBJG Bio of Brian Carbury at the-battle-of-britain.co.uk]
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=browserefine&query=last_name%3dcarbury&catid=27&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=* Several of Carbury's original Air Comabat reports are now available for download from the website of] The National Archives (fee required)