Henry William Brown
Military
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

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
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

- 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

- 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
![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_x1/public/freeman/media-377141.jpg.webp?itok=jAd122t2)
- Site type: Airfield
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
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Brown&Submit=Sea…
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmpilot.asp?Pilot=Brown%2C+Henry...
https://www.fold3.com/image/28725796
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbapi.asp?Pilot=Brown%2C+Henry+W…;...
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/brown.html
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Brown&Submit=Sea…
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmpilot.asp?Pilot=Brown%2C+Henr…
https://www.fold3.com/image/28725796
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbapi.asp?Pilot=Brown%2C+Henry+W…
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/brown.html
Freeman, The Mighty Eighth, p. 279.
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