Fred Brown Jr
Military
Object Number - UPL 27912 - Capt. Fred Brown. SFX/1SF (ex 401st BG). P-51D 44-13709 YF-H "Frances Ann".
Assigned to 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x missions on B-17's as co-pilot to 1st Lt Fred D Grinham.
On 1 Dec 1943 Solingen mission: Lt Brown discovered that 3 bombs had jammed in the bomb bay when the load was discharged. Standing on the catwalk as the sub-zero winds whistled through the open bomb bay, he kicked the bombs loose. Later he shared his own oxygen supply with Sgt. Charles M. Lewis, whose supply had been fouled.
Subsequent tour with Experimental Scout Force on P-51's. Transferred 1st Scouting Force. End of War (EOW).
Awards: AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Farmer's Daughter
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pistol Packin Mama
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fool's Luck
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little moe
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pakawalup II
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: RAF Honington
![P-51 Mustangs of the 355th Fighter Group break formation, ready for landing, over the ground support vehicles and control tower of Steeple Morden Airfield. Image signed on reverse with the approval of station censor. Handwritten caption on reverse: '355 FG Steeple Morden, Control Tower, read crew + P41 [sic] group peeling off for landing.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377141.jpg.webp?itok=zxxvSLfB)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Augusta, KS 67010, USA | 19 December 1921 | Son of Fred Snr and Martha Tippett [Broady] Brown. |
|
Other Crashed |
Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK | 1 September 1944 | Take Off Accident Steeple Morden/Sta 122 Cat 3 damage 1Lt Fred (NMI) Brown Jr, 1-Sep-44. P-51D5 - 44-13709 ESF 355FG 122 8 |
|
Based Transferred 1st Scouting Force |
Honington | 20 September 1944 | Transferred to [385FS], 1st Scouting Force. |
|
Based Transferred 384th Fighter Squadron |
Honington | 22 October 1944 | Transferred to [384FS], 1st Scouting Force. |
|
Died |
Mather Airport, 10425 Norden Ave, Mather, CA 95655, USA | 1 August 1946 | Fatal Crash East off Mather Fld CA Cat 4 damage 1Lt Fred (NMI) Brown Jr, 1-Aug-46. P-47N 45-49528 - 3010AAFBU Williams Fld, AZ FTC . |
|
Other End of War |
Europe | End of War (EOW). | |
|
Based |
Steeple Morden | 20 September 1944 | Transferred to Experimental Scouting Force. |
|
Based |
Deenethorpe | Assigned to 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 missions between 26-Nov-43 to 22-Jun-44. | |
|
Buried |
Greenlawn Memorial Park, Bakersfield, Kern County, CA | Greenlawn Memorial Park Bakersfield Kern County California, USA. |
Revisions
GENERAL ORDER # 557, dated 24 November 1944: From Headquarters 1st Bombardment Division, Office of the Commanding Brigadier General Turner.
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=3895
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
- http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/?Search=yes;
