BROWN, GORDON Feb 4, 1943 age 26 DNB Tunisia

GORDON MILNER BROWN b. June 3, 1916 d. Feb 4, 1943 Died Non Battle Tunisia

2^nd Lt O-663589 Army Air Corps 434^th Bomb Squad 12^th Bomb Group Heavy

 

Buried North Africa American Cemetery & Memorial, Carthage, Tunisia

Parents: Gordon Scouler & Hazel Louise (Milner)

Siblings: Kenneth, Allan, Donald H, Thomas W

17790 Trinity

19241 Lancashire

While father Gordon was born in London, Ontario; his family immigrated to the US shortly after his birth. Hazel was born in England and she moved to Canada in 1910. They married July 1915. Gordon was already a bookkeeper in 1910 and later worked as an accountant and then auditor at an auto factory. Their houses improved as did his employment. From 727 sq ft at 17790 Trinity they moved with their 5 sons to 1,900 sq ft in North Rosedale on Lancashire. In the 1940’s the parent moved to Howell.

Young Gordon granduated from Redford and attended Mariette College in Ohio for 2 years before he enlisted June 28, 1941. He was 5’6” at 133 lbs. Dec. 1941 he was at Fort Houston, Texas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His squadron was re-equipped with modern B-25 Mitchell medium bombers in California in April 1942 after which they were deployed to Egypt to support British forces in the Western Desert Campaign. Their ground personnel were transported by ship around the Cape of Good Hope to India then on to Cairo. Aircraft were flown via the transcontinental route to Morrison Field, Florida the fitted with long range auxiliary fuel tanks before departing to South America. Then they crossed the Atlantic to Liberia then north across central Africa to Cairo via Khartoum. Much different than today’s long range planes.

From Aug 1942 to June 1943 the 434^th supported the British Eighth Army as they advanced into Tunisia and later participated in the invasion of Sicily and Italy.

There is no information on the accident that caused his injuries. Gordon received a Purple Heart.