Vernon Sydney Brown (m. 1907) is largely responsible for the increased safety of air transport as a result of his efforts in the development of air crash investigation. Graduating as an engineer from Jesus College, Cambridge he worked in Gas Engineering until he joined the RFC Special Reserve in 1915. Learning to fly on the Vickers Gunbus at Joyce Green he then went to the Central Flying School where he was appointed an Assistant Instructor. Later being posted to the Experimental Station at Orfordness, he was involved in tests with machine guns and fighter tactics as well as conducting tests into 'blacking out' and flying BE2 aircraft used in parachute dropping experiments. In 1919 he was seconded to the Ministry of Munitions staying in that post after the department had been absorbed into the Air Ministry.
On retiring at his own request, he joined the Civil Service as Chief Inspector of Accidents. With the outbreak of World War Two, he was granted the honorary rank of Group Captain in the RAFVR and was later promoted to Honorary Air Commodore. One of the major problems he solved during World War Two was why many Stirling aircraft were lost after they had entered dives. He discovered that the pilot's harness was so uncomfortable that most pilot's released it after take off, only fastening it again prior to landing. However, if the aircraft then went into a dive, the pilot would fall forwards over the control column, forcing it into an even steeper dive from which the pilot would be unable to recover. He continued to head the Accidents Investigation Branch until his final retirement in 1952 and during his tenure he laid the foundations of an effective organisation using techniques which would eventually be more concerned with preventing future accidents as opposed to simply determining the causes.
Born 16th September 1808 in Saffron Walden, Essex, to Reverend Nicholas Bull and Susannah Bull.
Baptised 21st December 1808 in Saffron Walden, Essex.
Matriculated to Sidney College, Cambridge on 6th July 1830.
Received BA in 1834.
Received MA in 1851.
Ordained deacon (Carlisle, Litt. dim. from Ely) 21st June 1834.
Married 19th December 1837 to Williamina Alexandria Jane King in Saffron Walden, Essex.
Ordained priest (Ely) on 27th May 1838.
Appointed to the chaplainship at the Infant Orphans Asylum at Wanstead, Essex in April 1845.
Wrote a letter to Rev. French is written on behalf of his mother, the widow Mrs. Bull, on the subject of Rustat's charity and whether there is any particular form of application for it, on 24th April 1845.
Appointed vicar at Woolavington with Puriton, Somerset 1851-1878.
Domestic chaplain to the Earl of Kingston, 1871-1878.
Died in Woolavington, Somerset in 1878.
Born in Essex in approximately 1791, recorded in 1841 census.
Married to Reverend Nicholas Bull of Saffron Walden.
Gave birth to Alfred Nicholas Bull on 16th September 1808.
Widowed in September 1844.
Son looked into application for widow's relief by 24th April 1845.
Lived at No. 15 Finsbury Place South in the City of London on 1st May 1845.
Resident at Bromley College Kent, by 24th March 1846.
Deceased before 23rd March 1863.