Harry W. Brown (pilot) facts for kids

Harry Winston Brown (born May 19, 1921 – died October 7, 1991) was an American pilot. He was a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Wheeler Field in Hawaii. This was during the attack by Japan on December 7, 1941.

Harry Brown was one of only five American pilots who shot down enemy planes that day. He received a Silver Star medal for his bravery. He was the first person from Texas to be honored for courage in World War II. By the end of the war, he was known as a flying ace. This means he had shot down five or more enemy aircraft.

Early Life and Military Start

Harry Brown was born in Amarillo, Texas. He joined the Army Air Corps in September 1940. He became an officer on August 15, 1941, at Kelly Field in Texas. Soon after, he was sent to the 47th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Field in Hawaii.

World War II Combat

Defending Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941, Harry Brown and another pilot, Johnny Dains, saw the first wave of Japanese planes. They quickly decided to go to Haleiwa Field. They hoped this smaller airfield had not been attacked. They drove Brown's car, picking up Lieutenant Bob Rogers. They even dodged a Japanese pilot trying to shoot at their car. Sadly, Johnny Dains was later shot down by friendly anti-aircraft fire.

Brown took off in his Curtiss P-36 fighter plane. He was still wearing his pajamas, tuxedo pants, and house shoes! He only had his flight helmet and goggles on. You can see his unique "uniform" at the USAF Museum in Ohio. Once in the air, he found that only one of his machine guns worked.

Brown flew with Lieutenant Malcolm "Mike" Moore. They flew north and found two Japanese "Kate" torpedo bombers. Brown hit one of the planes. He later wrote that he saw a "big fire" on the plane. He lost sight of it and thought it had gotten away. However, the plane was found crashed in the ocean in 2002. Brown shot down another "Kate" that day. He was officially credited with this second victory in March 1942.

Fighting Across the Pacific

In August 1942, Brown was sent to Australia. He joined the 9th Fighter Squadron. There, he flew Curtiss P-40 planes. He got his third victory over Lae, New Guinea. This happened during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on March 4, 1943.

Brown was promoted to captain. He became a flight leader with the 475th Fighter Group. This group was known as "Satan's Angels." He flew the fast Lockheed P-38 plane. Brown scored the group's first three victories. He shot down three Japanese "Zero" planes over New Guinea on August 16, 1943. His seventh victory was another "Zero" over Rabaul on October 24.

After the War

After World War II, Harry Brown served as the base commander at McGuire AFB in New Jersey. He left active service in August 1948.

He stayed in the Air Force Reserve. He went to the University of Denver and earned two degrees. He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Brown worked as a personnel manager for the Bechtel Company in San Francisco for ten years. He also commanded a Reserve air-sea rescue squadron at Lowry AFB in Colorado.

Harry Brown passed away on October 7, 1991, in Walnut Creek, California.