James Boylan Brown (1921 - 1944)

Born 25 Jun 1921 in Griffin, Spalding, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Died 27 May 1944 at age 22 in Frosinone, Lazio, Italy

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Biography

2 Lt James Brown was Killed in Action during World War II.

James Brown is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

James Brown was awarded the Purple Heart.

James was born in 1921, in Griffin, Georgia, to James Brown and Oteele Wilkins. He grew up in Griffin where his father was a dentist and his mother was a music teacher. In 1939, James' father suddenly died. In February of 1942, he was living with his mother on South Park Avenue in Chicago when he enlisted in the service. He was working for Fred Harvey in the Dining car Department.^[1]. By the end of the year, he would be married to the movie starlet, Lena Torrence, in California. ^[2]. He enrolled in the Tuskegee air pilot program, and was a cadet in 1943 when his wife came to visit. ^[3]

James was commissioned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 99th Bomber Squadron in Italy. He flew 22 missions prior to the final one that would cost him his life. On May 27, 1944 he departed Pignataro airfield on an armed recon mission, flying a P-40, destined for Sora. He was flying Northeast of Frosinone when his plane began to smoke. 2nd Lt Clarence W. Dart, Jr. was an eye witness, and saw James jump out of the plane at about 2000 feet, into a wooded area. ^[4]. He was listed as Missing in Action until early January when his wife was informed that he had died from shell fire after parachuting from his plane. ^[5]. He was buried in a temporary cemetery in Italy until 1948, when his family chose to have his remains sent to California for burial. Funeral services were held on March 26, 1949 in the chapel of the Angelus funeral Home in Los Angeles. ^[6] His widow, mother, brother and sister were in attendance. He is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Illinois, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 205
2. ↑ California Eagle, 3 Dec 1942: Parents host a wedding reception for Lena Torrence brown on Nov 29, 1942, in their home.
3. ↑ California Eagle, 30 Sep 1943, pg. 10.
4. ↑ Missing Air Crew Report # 5372
5. ↑ The Weekly Review, Birmingham, Alabama, 20 Jan 1945, pg.1.
6. ↑ Long Beach Press, 27 Mar 1949, pg. 33.
7. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204122484/james-boylan-brown