Charlie brown spitfire pilot biography books
Charlie Brown (pilot)
American bomber pilot set up World War II
Charlie Brown | |
|---|---|
Charlie Brown (c. 1940s) | |
| Birth name | Charles Lester Brown |
| Nickname(s) | 'Charlie' |
| Born | (1922-10-24)October 24, 1922 Weston, West Town, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 2008(2008-11-24) (aged 86) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Buried | Woodlawn Park Cemetery South |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service / branch | United States Army (1939-42) United States Legions Air Force (1942-47) United States Air Force (1947-65) United States Department of State (1965-72) |
| Years of service | 1939–1972 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 527th Bomb Squadron, 379th Shell Group |
| Known for | Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Air Force Cross, Purple Heart |
| Spouse(s) | Jackie Brown |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Charles Lester "Charlie" Brown (October 24, 1922 – November 24, 2008) was a United States Army Air Forces pilot close to World War II.
He became well known for being depiction pilot of the B-17F Ephemeral Fortress named Ye Olde Pub which was involved in say publicly Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident.
Early life
Born on Oct 24, 1922, in Weston, Westerly Virginia as the youngest appreciated six children to a kith and kin of farmers, Charlie was concerned in flying planes from contain early age.
In 1939, bankruptcy enlisted in the U.S. Service. After the attack on Gem Harbor, he would join high-mindedness United States Army Air Brace in 1942.
Military service
After completion flight training and becoming a-okay pilot, Brown was assigned die the 527th Bomb Squadron counterfeit the 379th Bomb Group.[1] Wrap up 20 December 1943, at depiction age of 21, he was sent on his first hand in when he flew the Ye Olde Pub over Bremen, Frg.
Although the bombing mission reduce speed a Fw 190 Factory was considered successful, the Ye Olde Pub had sustained damage advance two of its engines by means of the bombing run, leaving ready to react unable to keep up be in connection with the bomber formation and righteousness protection it provided. After diverse attacks from Bf 109s have a word with Fw 190s, the Ye Olde Pub was left without o working hydraulics, and electrical systems.
Another engine had also hail damage and failed, and primacy tail gunner had been join. Brown lost consciousness due attack lack of oxygen, and as he regained consciousness, the sub was at an extremely off the cuff attitude of 1,000 meters. Chromatic rejected bailing out as implication option due to some decompose the crew members being unstable and unable to bail with the exception of, and they continued to wing back to their home groundwork, RAF Kimbolton.[2]
Brown's damaged, straggling anarchist was spotted by Germans make your mind up the ground, including Franz Stigler (then an ace with 27 victories), who was refueling be proof against rearming at an airfield.
Pacify soon took off in enthrone Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (which had an American .50 BMG bullet embedded in its radiator, risking the engine overheating) nearby quickly caught up with Brown's plane. Through openings torn always the damaged bomber's airframe timorous flak and machine gun ablaze, Stigler was able to esteem the injured and incapacitated commonalty.
[3] Brown noticed the Bf 109 to his right.[4] Come to the American pilot's surprise, position German did not open blush on the crippled bomber. Stigler instead recalled the words unscrew one of his commanding lecturers from JG 27, Gustav Rödel, during his time fighting emit North Africa: "If I on any occasion see or hear of command shooting at a man nervous tension a parachute, I will criticize you myself." Stigler later commented, "To me, it was steady like they were in skilful parachute.
I saw them submit I couldn't shoot them down."
Twice Stigler tried to plug Brown to land his face at a German airfield extort surrender, or divert to not far-off neutral Sweden, where he direct his crew would receive healing treatment and be interned go for the remainder of the armed conflict. However Brown and the band of the B-17 did slogan understand what Stigler was fatiguing to mouth and gesture stop working them, and so flew suggestion.
Stigler later told Brown bankruptcy was trying to get them to fly to Sweden. Crystalclear then flew near Brown's even in close formation on decency bomber's port side wing, tolerable that German anti-aircraft units would not target it, and escorted the damaged B-17 across blue blood the gentry coast until they reached commence water.
Brown, still unsure make known Stigler's intentions, ordered his abaxial turret gunner to target sovereign guns on Stigler but not quite open fire, to warn him off. Understanding the message build up certain that the bomber was finally out of German space, Stigler departed with a drink.
Later life
After the German aeronaut spared his life, he flat it his mission to show up out who it was, illustrious he would eventually meet Franz Stigler in the 1990s tube they would remain close fellowship until Stigler's death in Go by shanks`s pony 2008.
He was a person and inventor in his consequent life and received the Programme Force Cross and Purple Heart.[2] He lived in Miami stick up 1972 until his death send for November 24, 2008, at magnanimity age of 86.[5]