Charles Lester Brown

Military
media-24236.jpeg UPL 24236 Second Lieutenant Charles L. "Charlie" Brown, 527th Squadron, 379th Bomb Group.

Object Number - UPL 24236 - Second Lieutenant Charles L. "Charlie" Brown, 527th Squadron, 379th Bomb Group.

Flew on B-17 'Ye Olde Pub', pilot was Charles Brown. The plane was so badly damaged that a passing M109 German pilot Franz Stigler, felt so sorry for the crew that he escorted them part of the way home instead of shooting the B-17 down. Years later after the war they met at a 379th BG Reunion This was Charles Brown's first combat mission; he was to stay in the Air Force serving in Counter Intelligence. Stigler emigrated to the USA in 1953.



Air Force Cross (the only one awarded)

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
Sgt. Hugh Eckenrode, tail gunner of B-17 'Ye Olde Pub'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 527th Bomb Squadron 379th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 33237423
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: - Ye Olde Pub
  • Unit: 527th Bomb Squadron 379th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Carol Dawn
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

24 October 1922 According to author Adam Makos, in his book, "A Higher Call," Charlie Lester Brown was born on a farm without electricity in West Virginia, he milked cows before school, never missed a day of school, and for a short time worked as a janitor at the local elementary school after he graduated high school. While in high school, on weekends, he served with the National Guard in order to earn extra money for his family. Soon after high school, October 1939, he joined the full-time Army and entered the Army Air Force, bomber training program. See "A Higher Call," Dutton Caliber/Penguin Random House LLC, c. 2012, p. 136.See his Fold3 military profile at:https://www.fold3.com/memorial/92446008/charles-lester-brown

Evaded

2nd Lt. Charlie Brown and his bomber crews first mission, bombing run to Bremen, Germany.

20 December 1943 From the "Citation To Accompany The Award of The Air Force Cross To Charles L. Brown" "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10 Section 8742, U.S.C, awards the Air Force Cross to Second Lieutenant Charles L. Brown for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a B-17 Pilot over Germany, 20 December 1943. On this date while attacking a heavily defended target over occupied Germany, Lieutenant Brown's aircraft sustained severe flak damage, including destruction of the Plexiglas nose, wing damage, and major damage to the number two and four engines. Lieutenant Brown provided invaluable instructions to the co-pilot and the crew requiring the number two engine to be shut down. He then expertly managed to keep the number four engine producing partial power. This action enabled his crew to complete the improbable bombing run and bomb delivery on this important strategic target. Immediately upon leaving the target, severe multiple engine damage prevented maintaining their position in the formation. During this extreme duress, the demonstrated airmanship displayed by Lieutenant Brown could only be described as crucially pivotal to the aircraft's survival and displayed by only more seasoned and experienced aviators during the War. His violent, evasive tactics to counter the multiple enemy efforts to destroy their airplane directly contributed in his crew and his aircraft's survival. Alone and outnumbered, the aircraft was mercilessly attacked by the enemy in which crew difficulties were compounded when discovered only three defensive guns were operational, the others frozen in the -75 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. The results of this brief, but devastating aerial battle was one crew member dead; another critically wounded that would require amputation of his leg; serious damage of the third engine; the complete destruction of the aircraft's left elevator and stabilizer; the inoperability [sic] of bomber's oxygen and communication systems; and the complete shredding of the rudder by enemy fire that produced a death roll of the plane as it spiralled helplessly out of control causing the entire crew to temporarily lose consciousness. Miraculously, prior to ground impact, Lieutenant Brown and the co-pilot regained consciousness and managed to regain full flight control by pulling the heavily damaged aircraft out of its nose-dive. Although managing to recover this aircraft from certain doom, the crew's plight was further complicated when a lone German fighter witnessed the maneuver [sic], now attempted to force the crippled aircraft to land. Displaying the coolness, courage and airmanship of more senior pilots, he boldly rejected the enemy fighter's attempts at a forced landing and directed the struggling aircraft to the North Sea. While attempting this improbable, treacherous return to home station, Lieutenant Brown's command and control was instrumental to the remaining crew's survival. While in the cockpit, he provided the essential engine control, fuel management, and piloting skills necessary to the cockpit team during their hazardous, yet miraculous return of the aircraft's perilous crossing of the North Sea back to home station in England. Through this extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Lieutenant Brown reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Corps."    This excerpt taken from the picture of "The Air Force Cross" Citation found in author Adam Mako's book, "A Higher Call," Dutton Caliber/Penguin Random House LLC, 2012. The photos of the award and citation are found with other pictures at the back of the book. SEE: https://www.adammakos.com/a-higher-call-book.html 

Other

Lt. Col. Brown receives the Air Force Cross, while his crew belatedly receive Silver Stars.

1 April 2008 "Prior to Charlie's death, the U.S. Air Force completed a lengthy investigation into the events of December 20, 1943, and the actions of Charlie and his crew. The Air Force ruled that military officials had made a mistake in how they had handled the case sixty-four years earlier. In April 2008, the Air Force summoned Charlie to the Florida State Capitol and awarded him the nation's second highest medal for valor - the Air Force Cross. The Air Force also presented Charlie's last living crewman, Albert 'Doc' Sadok, with the Silver Star and posthumously awarded a Silver Star to each of the eight deceased members of the crew.     "Today, with the combined nine Silver Stars and one Air Force Cross, the crew of 'Ye Olde Pub' remains on of the most decorated bomber crews in history..." * This from author Adam Makos book, "A Higher Call," Dutton Caliber/ Penguin Random House LLC, copyright 2012, pp. 370-371. SEE: https://www.adammakos.com/a-higher-call-book.html 

Died

24 November 2008 Charles 'Charlie' Lester Brown died eight months after his new/good friend, and saviour from December of 1943, Franz Stigler (d. March 2008) passed away from illness. See "A Higher Call," Dutton Caliber/Penguin Random House LLC, c. 2012, p. 370.

Buried

Woodlawn Park Cemetery, South Miami, Florida, USA. SEE his Find A Grave profile at:https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35780371/charles-lester-brown

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Sources

Added an "O-" to the S/N to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributorhansvonmaltzahn
Changes
Sources

These excerpts found in author Adam Mako's book, "A Higher Call," Dutton Caliber/Penguin Random House LLC, 2012. The photos of the award and citation are found with other pictures at the back of the book. SEE: https://www.adammakos.com/a-higher-call-book.html

Date
Contributorhansvonmaltzahn
Changes
Sources

1. "A Higher Call," by Adam Makos, Dutton Caliber/Penguin Random House LLC, copyright 2012. SEE: https://www.adammakos.com/a-higher-call-book.html

There are also two interviews on this author page, featuring both Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler; these are a must see for anyone who has enjoyed this book.

2. Fold3 profile for Lt. Col. Charles Lester Brown at: https://www.fold3.com/memorial/92446008/charles-lester-brown

3. Find A Grave profile for Lt. Col. Charles Lester Brown at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35780371/charles-lester-brown

 

Date
ContributorHelen
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390BG journal March 1998

Date
ContributorHelen
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390thBG journal March 1998

Date
ContributorHelen
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390thBG journal March 1998

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added connection to airbase location.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added a connection to Mission "VIII Bomber Command 159" for 12/20/1943.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added crew connection using info from the crew photo.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added connections to crew members.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Aded death & burial info per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 35780371.

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Charles Lester Brown: Gallery (4 items)