June 23, 1921 – Dec. 11, 2017

Carl F. Brown Jr., 96, Huntingdon, passed away Monday in Huntingdon.

He was born in Huntingdon, son of the late Carl F. and Ada (Beaver) Brown. He was united in marriage to the former Regina Sheehan on July 8, 1950, in Thessalon, Ontario, Canada. She preceded him in death on July 28, 2004.

Surviving are four children: Carl F. Brown III of Huntingdon, Lynn Brown Shope and her husband, Gary, of Hershey, Laurie Brown Trowbridge and her husband, Edward, of Huntingdon and Christopher R. Brown and his wife, Amy, of Chambersburg; six grandchildren: Eric Brown, Alex Shope, Michael Brown, Lynn Trowbridge, Taylor and Ian Brown; a brother, Richard Brown and his wife, Jane; as well as, an extended family of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, John Beaver Brown, on Nov. 14, 2002.

Having already been registered for the draft, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Force at Baer Army Air Base in Fort Wayne, Ind. He left Purdue in 1943 to attend flight school at the Lodwick School of Aeronautics in Lakeland, Fla. He graduated from flight school in Jan. 1944, and was sent to England in May, where he was assigned to the famed 8th Air Force’s 4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron, 65th Wing, based in Debden, England. The 4th Fighter Group was the highest scoring fighter group in the U.S. Army Air Force, destroying a total of 1,016 enemy aircrafts both on the ground and in the skies over Europe. Carl became a 2nd Lt. June 2, 1944, and flew his first mission in his P-51 Mustang over France three days following D-Day.

During his career he flew 72 combat missions across Germany, Holland, France and Belgium; with a total of 320 flying hours during WW II. His war campaigns included Air Offensive Europe, Northern France, Ardennes, Normandy, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was one of only a few pilots credited with destroying a German Messerschmitt Me 262 Fighter Jet, which was a rare occurrence as there were few of them and they were heavily protected. In Feb. 1945, he earned the rank of Captain and later that year became Commander of the 334th Squadron. He was the last Commanding Officer of the 334th Fighter Squadron and was the flying officer in charge of bringing troops home on the Queen Mary. Until his death, he was one of only four surviving members of the 4th Fighter Group’s Eagle Squadron. Following his active duty discharge in Dec. 1945, Carl continued to serve as a standby reserve and was awarded the rank of Major. In June 1967, he was transferred to the U.S. Air Force Retired Reserve in recognition of his honorable service.

During his war experiences, he received many awards including: The Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Cluster, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Six Battle Stars, American Campaign Medal and a WW II Victory Medal. In 2015, Mr. Brown was recognized by the French Government in Washington, D.C., where he was named a Chevalier of the French Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest civilian honor, for his WW II efforts to help liberate France.

After returning from England, he continued his studies at Purdue University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He retired in 1992 from John R. Wald Co. as chief engineer.





Participated in 72 combat sorties over enemy occupied Europe, 11 June 1944 to 24 February 1945. Served under Col. Blakeslee.



DFC/ Air Medal w/ 10 Oak Leaf Cluster/ EAME Medal w/ 6 Battle Stars/ American Campaign Medal/ WW II Victory Medal, French Legion D'Honneur



3 1/2 enemy aircraft destroyed