Brian Carbury, DFC & Bar (27 February 1918 – 31 July 1961) was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.

During the early stages of the Second World War, the squadron was based in Scotland and patrolled the North Sea during which time Carbury was credited with damaging at least three bombers.

Tiring of retail work, he headed to the United Kingdom in June 1937 to pursue a military career.

[1] Accepted for the RAF, Carbury began training in September 1937 and later in the year was appointed an acting pilot officer.

A section of the squadron had taken off to intercept bombers targeting shipping in the Firth of Forth and shot down a Junkers Ju 88 east of Dalkeith.

He claimed a damaged He 111, observing smoke coming from both engines of the bomber as it turned away although he was unable to pursue it due to a lack of fuel.

[7] During this time, he was promoted to flying officer[8] and also shared in the destruction of two more German bombers, a He 111 in March and a Ju 88 in July.

[9] Among them was the Australian Richard Hillary, who on arrival at the squadron in early July, was greeted by Carbury and immediately invited to drinks in the mess.

[4] Carbury flew two patrols the day after the squadron's arrival, encountering a group of Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters on both occasions.

Now officially credited with at least eight German aircraft destroyed, his exploits were recognised by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

[4] The award was gazetted on 24 September 1940, and the published citation read:During operations on the North East coast Flying Officer Carbury led his section in an attack on two enemy aircraft.

Five of these were shot down during three successive engagements in one day.On 7 September the Luftwaffe mounted its first large scale daylight bombing raid on London.

603 Squadron caught part of the bombing formation on its return flight to France and Carbury shot down an escorting Bf 109 and damaged two bombers.

Towards the end of the month, the pace of the aerial fighting began to slow down with the Luftwaffe changing its tactics by using Bf 109s in a fighter-bomber role for daylight attacks.

Flying a patrol on 10 October as the leader of a section of three Spitfires, he spotted a group of 20 Bf 109s returning to northern France.

By the end of October 1940, Carbury was officially credited with 15+1⁄2 victories, the fifth highest scoring RAF pilot of the Battle of Britain.

He was awarded a bar to the DFC he had received the previous month, one of only a few pilots so recognised during the period of the battle.

[4][19] The award of the bar was gazetted on 25 October 1940, the citation reading:Flying Officer Carbury has displayed outstanding gallantry and skill in engagements against the enemy.

Since that date he has destroyed two Messerschmitt 109's and two Heinkel 113's, and, in company with other pilots of his squadron, also assisted in the destruction of yet another two enemy aircraft.

[19] By this time, in addition to his 15+1⁄2 confirmed kills, he was also credited with two probables and five damaged enemy aircraft.

He was reportedly paid £500 to deliver a Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighter to Palestine and flew it there from England, with stops at Corsica and Yugoslavia.