The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Francis T. Brown, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 31 March 1962. As Pilot of a Navy all-weather fighter aircraft, the F4H-1 Phantom II, Lieutenant Commander Brown succeeded in establishing a new world class record for time to climb to 20,000 meters, attaining a time of 178.5 seconds from a standing start to 20,000 meters altitude. Through his exceptional achievement, he clearly demonstrated the inherent capabilities and the maximum performance of a most important aircraft of the U.S. Navy. In addition, he was instrumental in focusing world attention on the continued significant development of the science of aviation in the United States.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Francis T. Brown, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as airborne strike coordinator of aircraft in the strikes against the Phu Qui ammunition depot in North Vietnam, on 15 March 1965. Commander Brown supervised the planning and coordination of the large number of aircraft involved. Encountering adverse weather en route to the target, he took command to establish separation and then preceded the strike group to the target area, providing weather reports as he progressed. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire as he approached the target, he maneuvered his flight into a devastating attack on the assigned target.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Francis T. Brown, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as airborne strike coordinator for Attack Carrier Air Wing NINE aircraft participating in the retaliatory air strike against Chanh Hoa, North Vietnam, on 11 February 1965. Preceding the strike group to reconnoiter the weather, Commander Brown stationed himself at low altitude near the target, where he supervised the strike timing which had been complicated by adverse weather. Although the weather forced him into the area of heavy anti-aircraft fire, he remained over the target to assist the attacking elements until all had safely departed.