Steve Brew has served as the honorary historian of No. 41 Squadron RAF since 2006, a role in which he has accompanied the Squadron through major milestones including the drawdown of the Jaguar force, the closure of RAF Coltishall, and the renumbering of the Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit that re‑formed 41 Squadron as a Test and Evaluation Squadron, first on Harrier and Tornado aircraft, and today on the Eurofighter Typhoon. Over the past two decades he has written extensively on the Squadron’s history, publishing Blood, Sweat and Valour (2012), covering 1942–1945; Blood, Sweat and Courage (2014), covering 1939–1942; and A Ruddy Awful Waste (2016), a biography of Battle of Britain ace Eric Lock. Blood, Sweat and Esprit de Corps is his fourth major work and examines the Squadron’s interwar years.

Steve’s connection to 41 Squadron is personal: his great uncle, Sgt Plt Bill Brew, served on the Squadron in 1941, sparking a lifelong interest in its personnel and heritage. Born and educated in Australia, Steve has lived and worked in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom, and is currently employed in the defence industry in Australia. He regards his role as Squadron historian as both an honour and a privilege, having worked closely with successive Officers Commanding 41 Squadron, serving personnel, World War II veterans, and the families of Squadron members spanning the period from 1916 to 2026. Their trust and generosity have been instrumental in shaping the depth, accuracy and human detail of his four works covering the Squadron’s history from 1923 to 1946.