Buster was born in Wellington on 24 December 1924 to Walter Alfred Brown (WW1 veteran) and Louise Brown (nee Radford). Buster grew up in Roseneath, Wellington and attended Wellington Technical High School (now Wellington High School). Buster had two sisters.

Buster was an Air Gunner in a PV1 Ventura bomber of Number 3 squadron, based in the pacific theatre during WW2. The Squadron completed three operational tours of the South West Pacific, the latter tours with Ventura medium bombers. During the tours it was based at Espritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Emirau, Green Island and New Britain.

Buster attended Gunnery Training School at Ohakea from 21 February 1944 to 31 March 1944. According to his logbook, Buster flew 43 missions including 14 strikes with Number 3 Squadron amassing 315 hours and 15 minutes flight time. Buster's last mission was on 24 June1945.

After the war, Buster was a prominent member of the Upper Hutt RSA, Air Gunners Association and the Brevet Club for ex Air Force personnel. Buster also worked as a Fitter & Turner, primarily for General Motors and Repco. Buster was married after the war to Yvonne and they had two children. Buster also had three grandsons at the time of his death in 2007. AWMM