TORONTO

There’s no statue to honour him.

No airports, schools or military bases named after him and no artefacts displayed at Canada’s National War Museum.

Who is Roy Brown?

One of Canada’s greatest war heroes, that’s who.

Few know the name of the First World War pilot. Even fewer understand the significance of the military feat credited to him.

When I mentioned to some smart people I was writing my column about Brown, the response was simple.

“Who?” The name didn’t stand out. Another Canadian not properly given his due.

Who is Roy Brown?

The family of German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen would know.

Brown, from Carleton Place, Ont., is the Royal Naval Air Service pilot credited with the victory that resulted in the death of the Red Baron, who shot down 80 Allied planes.

German and Allied planes were in a vicious dog fight over Vaux-sur-Somme, France, on April 21, 1918. Descriptions from Edmonton’s Wilfrid “Wop” May indicate he had the leader of the “Flying Circus” on his tail.

From the clouds dove Brown, who got behind the red triplane, fired a burst, and the Red Baron Richthofen went down.

May reported it was Brown who shot down the Baron, as did an American pilot witness. To this day Brown is officially credited with the kill, but there are some who claim it was machine-gun fire from Australian infantry on the ground that felled the German.

So, in true Canadian fashion, there’s little to celebrate one of our greatest military achievements and achievers. There actually might be more to honour the Baron.

With photographer Ernest Doroszuk, I was invited to the amazing Royal Canadian Military Institute on University Ave. to see its tasteful display of the almost 100-year-old dog fight. Donated by Brown himself in 1920, on display is a piece of the triplane’s wing, the seat the Baron sat in, and a cut out of the plane’s actual iron cross — signed by Brown’s flight crew.

Who knew that was here?

There’s a picture and words on Richthofen’s greatness. There’s also a picture of Brown but the write-up talks as much about the event being in question as it does about the victor.

In Canada this happens. Even a plaque in his hometown showcases the controversy.

“We are working on all of this,” said Rob Probert, president of the Roy Brown Society in Carleton Place, which also has a great mural. “As far as we are concerned, it was Roy Brown who shot von Richthofen down and it is him who is officially credited.” All the other claims are just that. Not proven.

I will have more in Wednesday’s column, including words written by Brown himself and the story of a GTA girl who’s fighting to make sure Brown is never forgotten.

For some reason, Canada does not want to give Brown his proper due. He wasn’t even accepted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame until this year.

“We do not have anything on display,” acknowledged Avra Gibbs-Lamey, of the Canadian War Museum.

How could this be?

It’s not the fault of Avra, who politely offered a look at his log books and letters they have in archives. It’s the Canadian way to leave out of halls of fame the guy who scored the winning goal (Paul Henderson) and put in the guy who let it in (Russian Vladislav Tretiak).

But if our war museum won’t boast about Brown, who will?

Change is needed. By the time we reach the 100-year anniversary of the Baron’s defeat in 2018, a proper statue of Brown and those involved in this event should be on display for all to see in Ottawa and Carleton Place.

And, unless ever properly proven and officially amended, the artificial asterisk needs to be removed so the record will show the Red Baron was taken out of the sky by who?

Capt. Roy Brown, that’s who.

joe.warmington@sunmedia.ca