TSGT JAMES STEPHEN BROWN JR.; U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE

October 20, 1921 (Wilton, CT) – January 4, 1944; 22 years old
Unmarried
Last local address: 161 South Main Street, South Norwalk
Enlisted May 1, 1942
Service number: 11034006
Unit: 392nd Bomber Group, 577th Bomber Squadron

Born to James S. Sr. [WWI veteran] (1896-1979) and Mary Flynn Brown (1896-1991). Sisters Mary J. Brown Pulizzi (1933-1988) and Anne Brown Forcellina (1936-).

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Awarded the Air Medal (twice)

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TSgt Brown’s cousin, Captain Joseph Orville “Joey” Brown, was shot down and killed in Laos during the Vietnam War.

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Target: KIEL Germany; Missing Air Crew Report Details; USAAF MACR#: 01908; Date Lost: 4-Jan-44; Serial Number: #42-7482; Aircraft Model B-24; Aircraft Letter: “P”; Aircraft Name: “SHACK RAT” 13th Mission; Location: North Sea just off the small island of Langeness; Cause: Fighters; 10 KIA

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General Briefing for aircrews was held at 0330-0400 hours. The Command Pilot with Cassell’s crew for this mission was Major Keilman, 579th CO. Takeoff for (25) aircraft began around 0800 hours with the 579th Squadron leading the mission. This raid was to be the costliest one for the 392nd in airmen and aircraft lost more so than the first Bremen mission on 13 November 1943. Before the Group returned, (6) B-24s would be lost in combat with (6) more badly damaged and (60) aircrew members killed or missing-in-action. Six (6) Liberators were damaged (3) due to enemy fighters and (3) to flak. Mission aircraft began returning at 1445 hours.

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MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: No specific 392nd crew eye-witness account is detailed concerning the loss of this aircrew and plane. A German Report, #KU623 of the mission date, 4 January, notes that this particular ship was found crashed in the North Sea at 1300 hours just off the small island of Langeness after having exploded in the air. Five dead crew members were located in this wreckage and the probable cause of the shoot-down was fighter aircraft. No other account exists on further circumstances of the crew’s loss.

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The “SHACK RAT” crew
1/LT Raymond P. Lambert Pilot
2nd/LT Archie F. Haviland Jr. Co-Pilot
1/LT Rudolph A. Kapp Navigator
1/LT Herbert M. Godfrey Bombardier
T/Sgt William J. Reese Engineer
T/Sgt James S. Brown Radio Operator / Gunner
S/Sgt William R. Tantum Gunner
S/Sgt Ambrose R. Pfeifer Gunner
S/Sgt Walter N. Day
S/Sgt John H. Magee

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From The Norwalk Hour September 21, 1945

Tech Sgt James S. Brown, reported by the War Department as missing in action over Kiel, Germany, since January 4, 1944, is now listed as dead, according to a telegram received on Wednesday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James S. Brown of 49 ½ East Avenue. Sgt Brown had been stationed in England since August 1943 and had been awarded the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster, receiving the latter medal only the day before his last mission. No details regarding his death have been received by the family. Sgt Brown, who attended St. Joseph’s School, was a graduate of Greenfield (Mass.) High School, before he went into the service on June 6, 1942, was a cost clerk with the Boston and Main Railroad Company. After he went into the service, he attended a radio school in Chicago where he learned to be a radio operator. He next went to Panama City, Florida where he was awarded his wings as an aerial gunner. Before he was sent overseas, he had further training at Kansas City, Kansas, and Alamogordo, New Mexico.

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From The Norwalk Hour November 5, 1951

Military funeral services for T/Sgt James S. Brown, who was Killed In Action in Germany on January 4, 1944, were held in the late home, 49 1/2 East Avenue. A solemn requiem mass was celebrated at 10 o’clock in St. Mary’s Church. Rev Francis McGuire was celebrant; Rev Harold J. Flanagan, deacon; and Rev John Cavanaugh, sub-deacon. James Vick rendered “Abide With Me,” for the processional; “Ave Maria,” at the offertory, and “America” at the conclusion of the mass. Interment took place in the family plot in St. John’s Cemetery where committal services were conducted by Father Flanagan. The bearers were: Sgt Phillip Kelley, SSgt James W. Morris, Sgt Norman Mirmom, Cpl Richard Maynard, Cpl Frederick C. Allard, and Cpl Earl D. Freeland. The firing squad constituted Lt R. Merkert, SSgt GW French, Cpl FE Chaisson, Cpl CF Corette, Cpl RV Healy, PFC KA Patterson, and PFC Cantone Paul. The bugler was PFC WF Broaddus, all of the 2500 Medical Squadron, Mitchell Air Force Base, NY. A representative group of students from the Sacred Heart Academy, Stamford, where TSgt Brown now has two sisters attending, were present at the services. Services by the Frank C. Godfrey Post No. 12, American Legion were conducted at the late home, Friday evening at 7:45 with Chaplain Archibald Merriam, Post Commander Nicholas D. Lamorte, Finance Officer Howard Farrington, Service Officer John Roberto, Trustee Frank Damato, Sergeant at Arms Patrick Mace and many Legionnaires were present. Representing the Auxiliary and the Gold Star Mothers Association were Mrs. Warren Hyde, President of the Auxiliary; Mrs. William Crook, Past President; Mrs. Anna Durner, president of the Gold Star Association; Mrs. Otto Goldstein; Mrs. Harry Jobrack and other members of the Auxiliary and the association. Services were also conducted by the Mulvoy-Tarlov-Aquino Post Veterans of Foreign Wars. Participating were Department Junior Vice Commander Charles Post, Post Commander John Kordos, Senior Vice Commander Alfred Leonard and other members. The services were very largely attended.

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Sergeant Brown was reinterred in 1952 to St. John’s Cemetery, Norwalk; Section A, Lot 30, Grave 1. Photo by webmaster.

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