13 Facts About Quintin Brand

Quintin Brand joined the South African Defence Force in 1913.

In 1915, Quintin Brand travelled to England, where he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.

Quintin Brand learned to fly and was awarded Royal Aero Club Certificate No 3949 on 30 March 1916.

In February 1918, Quintin Brand became commander of 112 Squadron, a home defence night fighter squadron equipped with specially modified Sopwith Camels flying from Throwley in Kent, shooting down a Gotha bomber over Faversham on 19 May He was then appointed commander of No 151 Squadron RAF at Fontaine-sur-Maye in France, a night fighter squadron formed to combat German night raids over the Western Front.

The squadron downed 26 German aircraft with Quintin Brand himself shooting down four, becoming the highest scoring RAF night fighter pilot of the First World War.

Quintin Brand claimed 12 victories in 1917 and 1918 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during this period.

Pilots Lieutenant Colonel Pierre van Ryneveld and Captain Quintin Brand formed the crew for the record-breaking flight.

From 1925 to 1927, Quintin Brand was Senior Technical Officer, then Principal Technical Officer, at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

Quintin Brand actively supported Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, in advocating the use of small, rapidly deployed, groups of fighters to intercept the Luftwaffe raiders.

Quintin Brand later became the air officer commanding No 20 Group.

Quintin Brand attacked a formation of five hostile machines and shot one of them down in flames.

Quintin Brand has at all times shown great courage and initiative.

Captain Quintin Brand showed great courage and skill in manoeuvering his machine during the encounter, and when the enemy aeroplane burst into flames he was so close that the flames enveloped his machine, scorching his face.