Walter L. Brown
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 1 August 1943, Staff Sergeant Walter L. Brown was serving with the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Ninth Air Force (Attached).

On that day, SSG Brown was serving as a Waist Gunner of a B-24 Bomber (Bewitching Witch) while participating in a bombing mission against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, SSG Brown acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged he continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the target, SSG Brown remained steadfast by his guns until he was killed by enemy fire. SSG Brown's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Award Numeral 2
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Aerial Gunner Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Staff Sergeant Walter L. Brown (ASN: 18063845), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Waist Gunner of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Staff Sergeant Brown acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged he continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Staff Sergeant Brown, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast by his guns until he was killed by enemy fire. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Brown on this occasion, at the cost of his life, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, Ninth U.S. Army Air Force, General Orders No. 90 (1943)

Memorialization

The remains of Staff Sergeant Walter L. Brown were never recovered from the Mediterranean Sea. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy.