In 1917, RNAS pilot Brown was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (left), a naval decoration, in recognition of his bravery in combat over the Western Front.

Brown is best remembered for his involvement in the death of Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron." In an aerial battle on 21 April 1918, Richthofen, Germany's highest-scoring ace, was pursuing Canadian pilot Wilfrid "Wop" May. Brown, spotting May in danger, dived steeply, firing at Richthofen to force him to break off his pursuit. During the fighting, a bullet passed through Richthofen's chest and he died shortly afterward. The incident continues to fascinate and to incite debate: while the Royal Air Force credited Brown with the victory and awarded him a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross in part for this action, forensic evidence suggests that the bullet that killed Richthofen was fired from the ground.

Medal Set, Captain Arthur Brown
Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals
CWM 19820001-001