Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Gerald
Brown
POW (Korea)
December 2, 1917

–

December 8, 2007

Cemetery:

National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

During World War II, Gerald Brown became an ACE credited with FIVE aerial victories. He was shot down over France in September 1944, but with the help of the French Underground was able to evade enemy patrols and was returned to England on the same day. Shot down over Korea in 1950, he spent nearly three years as a prisoner of war in the Korean War. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel in 1967.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    8th Fighter Command

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 8th Fighter Command, General Orders No. 78 (August 26, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight and the destruction of four enemy airplanes over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which Captain Brown has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    8th Fighter Command

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 8th Fighter Command, General Orders No. 42 (March 7, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the destruction of one enemy airplane over occupied Continental Europe during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which Captain Brown has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Colonel

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Air Force, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States, culminating as Commanding Officer, 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing in 1967.

  • Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (North Korea)

    Action Date:

    November 30, 1950 – September 6, 1953
    Department of the Air Force, General Orders No. 66 (August 25, 1955)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force) to Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Air Force, for exceptionally outstanding and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. From 30 November 1950 to 6 September 1953, while a Prisoner of War in North Korea. In full knowledge of the great personal risk involved as Senior United Nations officer at the Pingchong-Ni Prisoner of War Camp, Colonel Brown, in the latter part of 1951, despite anticipated punishment by torture, starvation, deprivation and probable execution, organized and directed a secret resistance movement of all prisoners in opposition to the indoctrination program of the Chinese Communist Forces. Colonel Brown’s objective was attained when the enforced study program of the enemy eventually collapsed due to the organized resistance inspired by this movement. In late December 1951, Colonel Brown, immediately recognizing the need for positive leadership to defeat the enemy’s psychological design, personally countermanded the orders issued by the Chinese Camp Commander that all United Nations prisoners of war would join in sending New Year’s Day greetings to the Commander of the Chinese Communist Forces in Korea. The outstanding leadership, exceptional fortitude and selfless devotion to duty consistently displayed by Colonel Brown during his thirty-three months of captivity, reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    8th Fighter Command

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 8th Fighter Command, General Orders No. 17 (March 7, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in accomplishing fifty fighter combat missions, or the equivalent thereof over enemy occupied Continental Europe during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which Lieutenant Brown has sought out the enemy and engaged him in aerial combat, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel

    Batallion:

    39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

    Regiment:

    35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (North Korea)

    Action Date:

    November 30, 1950 – August 31, 1953
    NARA Database: Repatriated Korean Conflict Prisoners of War, 7/5/1950 – 10/6/1954

    Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Air Force, was captured by communist forces after he was shot down over North Korea on 30 November 1950, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his release on 10 September 1953, during Operation Big Switch at the end of the war.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel

    Batallion:

    39th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    35th Fighter Group

    Action Date:

    Korean War
    Headquarters, 5th Air Force, General Orders No. 145 (November 20, 1950)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Brown (AFSN: FR-9625A/0-740139), United States Air Force, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot and Commanding Officer, 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, in Korea, in 1950.