Henry William Brown

Military
Major Henry W Brown of the 355th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Maj Henry W Brown.'

Object Number - FRE 9842 - Major Henry W Brown of the 355th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Maj Henry W Brown.'

Henry W Brown was the highest scoring Ace of the 355th Fighter Group and its second most decorated pilot. He joined the 355th in November 1943 and became an Ace in April 1944, during a mission where he claimed three aerial victories and saved two Mustangs by disrupting a formation of BF 109s on their tail, despite his lack of ammo. In October 1944 Brown made a forced landing behind enemy lines, his commanding Officer Chuck Lenfest landed his P-51 Mustang in an attempt to save Brown, but his aircraft became bogged down in soft ground and both were taken prisoner of war.

Following the War, Brown stayed with the US Air Force, he was appointed head of the F-111 program at Nellis Air Force Base in 1967, and later commanded the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. In Vietnam he was appointed deputy Director of Operations for the 7th Air Force. He retired as Colonel in 1972.

Flight C. O. with 354th FS/ Shot down on 3 Oct 44 after being hit by flak, belly landed; hid in trees but did not see fellow fighter pilot that landed to pick him up. Taken Prisoner of War (POW) on 3 Oct 44, till end of war. His Plane had no name painted on it but was to have been 'The Hun Hunter Texas' same name as his original plane.

Awards: DSC, DFC (4OLC), SS, AM (18 OLC), Croix de Guerre, PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME (4 x Battle Stars).

14.2 Aerial (+3 damaged), 14.5 Ground (+10 damaged)

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 354th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0 799 542
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Engineering Officer

Aircraft

A P-51 Mustang (WR-Z, serial number 42-106448) nicknamed "The Hun Hunter ~ Texas" of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group taxiying at Steeple Morden.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: The Hun Hunter / Texas
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 1st Scouting Force 354th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Baby
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 406th Fighter Group 354th Fighter Squadron 514th Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (WR-Z, serial number 44-13305) of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group in flight.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 354th Fighter Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Dallas, Texas 25 January 1923

Other

Crashed

Augusta Regional Airport, 1501 Aviation Way, Augusta, GA 30906, USA 13 January 1943 Taxiing Accident 12 Mi SW Bush Field, GA Cat 1 F/O Henry W Brown, 13-Jan-43. BT-13A 41-21765

Based

Steeple Morden 12 September 1943 - 3 October 1944 Assigned to 354FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Promotion

Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK 9 May 1944 Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

Other

End Tour Duty (ETD)

England, UK 21 May 1944 Ended Tour Duty (ETD).

Other

Prisoner of War

Zagan, Poland 3 October 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III.

Other

Belly landed / flak damaged

Nördlingen, Germany 3 October 1944 After being hit by flak attacking Nordlingen A/D, belly landed 3-Oct-44. POW.

Other

Crashed

Eglin AFB, FL 32542, USA 30 November 1954 Ground Accident Eglin AFB, FL Cat 1 damage Capt Henry W Brown, 30-Nov-54. T-33A 51-4047

Other

Retired

Sumter, SC, USA As Colonel

Other

Promotion

Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Other

Promotion

Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK Promoted to Captain.

Other

Completed flight training

Spence Airport-MUL, Mitchell Blvd, Moultrie, GA 31788, USA Graduated flight training Spence AAF, GA

Enlisted

Fort Worth, TX, USA Fort Worth, Texas

Revisions

Date24 Jun 2018 06:05:21
Contributordavidrogers
ChangesChanges to awards and events
Date15 Oct 2015 04:14:14
Contributorcaviggia
ChangesChanges to highest rank
Date18 Feb 2015 16:24:27
ChangesChanges to media associations
Sources

Associated image.

Date7 Oct 2014 14:38:58
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to nickname, service number, biography, awards, events, place associations, aircraft associations and media associations
Date27 Sep 2014 18:12:48
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force; Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45 MACR 9261

Henry William Brown: Gallery (6 items)