Killed in Action (KIA) crashed near Schleiden in P-47 'Okie II' 44-19569

78th FG 84th FS. Major Brown was the first American pilot to strafe a Nazi ground target in WW2. His record is 13 in the air and one on the ground. The ace pilot went down on 6th September 1944.

Eye witness report from 1st Lt Richard L Baron states, “ Maj Brown sighted Vogelsand Airfield. He called and said he was going to go over it and investigate. He made a steep turn and we (the flight) ended up in string formation. He went over first and I saw tracers going at him, so I hit low for the deck. I looked up and saw several strikes on his plane. He pulled up sharply as we got across and I pulled alongside. I saw his plane shake and the canopy come off. He then bailed out at about 1,200 feet. His parachute opened and I saw him land in a field. He then ran and lay down in some tall grass. I circled once and made sure no one was after him, and then left. I came back later and both the parachute and Maj Brown were gone.”

‘The report of burial (the body was re-interred in a military cemetery) received by the group states that the pilot died of gunshot wounds in the head and neck, and that he had been interred by German civilians. It continued: “It is believed that the remains were looted of personal effects prior to burial. “ ‘

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