Carl A. Brown Jr.

Brown was born on July 24, 1917, to Carl Allen Brown Sr. and Golda Allen Garner Brown. He has two siblings, an older sister named Lola Marion Brown Chiles and a younger brother named Jack Morris Brown. The Texarkana that Brown and his siblings grew up in has a railroad hub for the Cotton Belt that had a population of over 20,000 and was home to many businesses related to timber and agriculture.^[3] By the time he was in his early teenage years, Brown had gained an interest in aviation.

While it is not necessarily clear when and where Brown entered military service, he held the rank of lieutenant by 1944.^[1] In June 1944, he served as division flight leader of the Fighter Squadron 27 (VF-27) aboard the light cruiser USS Princeton (CVL-23).^[4] Brown and his squadron participated in the Marianas operations from June 11 to June 19, where he would shoot down two enemy planes and strafe ground positions effectively. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in these operations.^[2]

On September 21, 1944, while part of a fighter sweep over the Philippines, he destroyed another two enemy aircraft while his unit would score another eight aircraft for a total of ten.^[5] He was awarded a second Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions over the Philippines.^[2]

By October 1944, Brown had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander.^[4] While in command of VF 27, the Princeton would be added to Carrier Task Force 38 which was operating in the Sibuyan Sea.^[6] On the morning on October 24, the Task Force was rapidly approached by a massive Japanese strike force aimed at destroying the carrier convoy.^[6] Brown and his squad, flying F6F Hellcats, launched to intercept the fast-approaching enemy.^[7] Brown would subsequently shoot down five of these attacking enemy aircraft while damaging another before they could reach the Allied task force.^[2]

Later that same day at roughly 0930, the Princeton came under direct attack, with VF 27 again launching against the enemy.^[8] Brown and his fighters were quickly engaged in combat directly over the Princeton when a D4Y "Judy" Dive Bomber penetrated the fighter cover and scored a direct hit on the ship. The bomb pierced the flight deck and detonated near the hangar, causing an intense fire.^[8] While the crew tried her best to save the vessel, a secondary explosion sealed her fate and Brown's squadron soon found themselves without a place to land. Eventually all planes in his squadron were able to land on other carriers in the task force. Brown was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at Leyte Gulf.

He continued flying for the rest of the war, eventually reaching the rank of Commander.^[2] He participated in the Korean War and Vietnam War in advisory and command roles.^[2] He died on September 4, 1998, at the age of 81 and is buried at Barrancas National Cemetery at NAS Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida.^[9]