John Braham (RAF officer)

John Randall Daniel "Bob" Braham, (6 April 1920 – 7 February 1974) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) night fighter pilot and fighter ace during the Second World War.

Braham was born in April 1920.

Upon leaving school as a teenager he worked for his local constabulary as a clerk.

John Braham was born on 6 April 1920 in Holcombe, Somerset.

His father, Ernest Goodall Braham, was a Methodist minister who earned his qualifications at Bristol and Liverpool University.

Reverend Braham then became a Doctor of Theology after studying at King's College London in 1935.

Bored with civilian life, Braham joined the RAF on a five-year short service commission in December 1937.

He began basic training in March 1938 and then advanced training from August to December.

Upon the completion of flight training, he was posted to No. 29 Squadron RAF based at RAF Debden, where he learned to fly the Hawker Hurricane and Bristol Blenheim.

In 1939 the squadron began to organise itself as a specialised night fighter unit.

By August 1940, the Battle of Britain was underway.

He gained his first victory on 24 August, which remained his only success in the battle.

In September 1940, No. 29 Squadron was re-equipped with the Bristol Beaufighter.

Braham continued operations during "The Blitz", claiming the destruction of two more enemy aircraft.

By the end of 1940 he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Braham continued to operate as an anti-intruder pilot after the Blitz ended in May 1941.

He became an ace in September 1941, having achieved five victories, and was awarded a bar to his DFC in November 1941.

In June 1942 he was promoted to squadron leader.

By October 1942 Braham had claimed 12 enemy aircraft destroyed and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

Braham also flew missions with RAF Coastal Command during this time and claimed a U-boat damaged and an E-boat destroyed.

He was then promoted to wing commander and given command of No. 141 Squadron RAF.

Braham undertook more intruder sorties into German-occupied Europe at this point and received a second bar to his DFC in June 1943 and by September 1943 had gained seven more victories, including three, possibly four, German night fighter aces.

Consequently, he was awarded a bar to his DSO.

The squadron soon converted to the De Havilland Mosquito and in February 1944 Braham was transferred to the operations staff at No. 2 Group RAF but was permitted to fly one operation per week.

He achieved nine victories in the Mosquito and in June 1944 was awarded a second bar to his DSO.

Braham's war came to an end on 24 June 1944 when he was shot down by a pair of single-engine German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters.

Braham was captured and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.

He was liberated in May 1945.

Braham was the most highly decorated airman in RAF Fighter Command.

He claimed the destruction of 29 enemy aircraft.

In addition, he claimed a further six damaged and four probable victories.

One of these probable victories can be confirmed through German records, making an unofficial total of 30 enemy aircraft destroyed.

Nineteen were achieved at night.

He was the most successful British pilot on twin-engine aircraft.

The 19 victories claimed at night rivalled John "Cats Eyes" Cunningham's tally and was bettered only by night fighter pilot Branse Burbridge.

After the war he was offered a permanent commission, which he initially accepted.

Having resigned his commission in March 1946 he re-enlisted briefly.

After struggling to find a career that would support his family, Braham emigrated to Canada with his family and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1952.

Having held office at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Braham retired from military life and began working as a civilian for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

He continued to work there until his death from an undiagnosed brain tumor in 1974, aged 53.