Charles Lester Brown

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, U.S.C., awards the Air Force Cross to Second Lieutenant Charles L. Brown for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a B-17 Pilot over Germany, 20 December 1943. On this date while attacking a heavily defended target over occupied Germany, Lieutenant Brown’s aircraft sustained severe flak damage, including destruction of the Plexiglass nose, wing damage, and major damage to the number two and four engines. Lieutenant Brown provided invaluable instructions to the co-pilot and enabled his crew to complete the improbable bombing run and bomb delivery on this important strategic target. Immediately upon leaving the target, severe multiple engine damage prevented maintaining their position in the formation. During this extreme duress, the demonstrated airmanship displayed by Lieutenant Brown could only be described as crucially pivotal to the aircraft’s survival and displayed by only more seasoned and experienced aviators during the War. His violent, evasive tactics to counter the multiple enemy efforts to destroy their airplane directly contributed to his crew and his aircraft’s survival. Alone and outnumbered, the aircraft was mercilessly attacked by the enemy, in which crew difficulties were compounded when discovered only three defensive guns were operational, the others frozen in the -75 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. The results of this brief, but devastating aerial battle was one crew member dead; another critically wounded that would require amputation of his leg; serious damage of the third engine; the complete destruction of the aircraft’s left elevator and stabilizer; the inoperability of bomber’s oxygen and communications systems; and the complete shredding of the rudder by enemy fire that produced a death roll of the plane as it spiraled helplessly out of control causing the entire crew to temporarily lose consciousness. Miraculously, prior to ground impact, Lieutenant Brown and the co-pilot regained consciousness and managed to regain full flight control by pulling the heavily damaged aircraft out of its nose-dive. Although managing to recover this aircraft from certain doom, the crew’s plight was further complicated when a lone German fighter witnessed the maneuver now attempted to force the crippled aircraft to land. Displaying the coolness, courage and airmanship of more senior pilots, he boldly rejected the enemy fighter’s attempts at a forced landing and directed the struggling aircraft to the North Sea. While attempting this improbable, treacherous return to home station, Lieutenant Brown’s command and control was instrumental to the remaining crew’s survival. While in the cockpit, he provided the essential engine control, fuel management, and piloting skills necessary to the cockpit team during their hazardous, yet miraculous return of the aircraft’s perilous crossing of the North Sea back to home station in England. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Lieutenant Brown reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Corps.