Henry W. Brown

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Henry W. Brown (0-2044989), Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 11 April 1944, during an air mission over Berlin, Germany. On this date Second Lieutenant Brown was escorting bombers to their target on the outskirts of Berlin. After the bombers unloaded and headed for home, the 355th turned its escort duty over to another group and prepared to strafe targets of opportunity. On the first pass, Lieutenant Brown burned a JU-52, then riddled a JU-88 bomber on his second pass. Spotting an FW-190 fighter taking off, he performed a chandelle to the left, pulling up behind the German fighter and shooting it down just as he ran out of ammunition. Returning home he became aware of four enemy fighters stalking two fellow Allied fighters. Though out of ammunition, Lieutenant Brown called out a warning and then moved in on the enemy fighters as if to attack. There followed a 20-minute engagement in which he outturned his four adversaries, forcing them one by one to roll out of a Lufbery circle and dive for the ground. His daring actions enabled the other two fighters, both of which were out of ammunition, to escape. Second Lieutenant Brown’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.