Jesse L. Brown
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| Jesse LeRoy Brown | |
|---|---|
| 13 October 1926 – 4 December 1950 | |
 Ensign Jesse L. Brown, September 1949 |
|
| Place of birth | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
| Place of death | KIA, aircraft hit by enemy fire and crashed. |
| Allegiance | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1946–1950 |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Unit | Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) USS Leyte (CV-32) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Chosin Reservoir Korean War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
- This article is about the naval aviator. For the Veterans Affairs administrator, see Jesse Brown.
Jesse LeRoy Brown (13 October 1926 – 4 December 1950) was the first African-American naval aviator in the United States Navy.
Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Brown enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1946 and was appointed a Midshipman, USN, the following year. After attending Navy pre-flight school and flight training, he was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1948. Midshipman Brown was then assigned to Fighter Squadron 32. He received his commission as Ensign in April 1949.
During the Korean War, his squadron operated from USS Leyte (CV-32), flying F4U-4 Corsair fighters in support of United Nations forces. On 4 December 1950, while on a close air support mission near the Chosin Reservoir, Ensign Brown's plane was hit by enemy fire and crashed. Despite heroic efforts by other aviators, notably LT(jg) Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., he could not be rescued and died in his aircraft. Ensign Jesse L. Brown was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his Korean War combat service.
USS Jesse L. Brown (DE-1089) was named in honor of Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown.
[edit] See also
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This article includes information collected from the Naval Historical Center, which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. |
[edit] External links
Categories: 1926 births | 1950 deaths | Military personnel of the Korean War | Naval aviators | People from Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Recipients of US Distinguished Flying Cross | United States Navy officers | Black history in the United States military | African Americans in the United States military
