Fletcher Locke Brown, Jr.
Major Fletcher L. Brown, Jr. was a Marine pilot and executive officer of VMSB-232.
His aircraft was lost in a storm near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 6 September 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number O-5613
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 9, 1914
at Topsail, NC
Parents
Dr. Fletcher Locke Brown, Sr.
Maude Flatman (Phifer) Brown
Education
University of Florida (1937)
Occupation & Employer
Professional Marine
Service Life
Entered Service
June 7, 1937 (US Army)
July 28, 1937 (USMC)
Home Of Record
Jacksonville, FL
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Elynor Layne (Forster) Brown
Military Specialty
Pilot
Squadron Executive Officer
Primary Unit
VMSB-232
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Navy Cross
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Major Fletcher L. Brown, Jr. was a Marine dive bomber pilot. He served as the executive officer of VMSB-232, part of the Cactus Air Force, during the campaign for Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. A bold flyer and effective leader, Brown earned recognition for his performance in strikes against Japanese ground troops on the ‘Canal, and against shipping near Ramos Island.
On 7 September 1942, Major Brown led a division of dive bombers in a strike on Japanese harbor installations on Gizo in the western Solomons. No aircraft were lost in the attack, but a “violent rain squall” blew in on the return flight. The formation, flying at just 200′ altitude, broke apart as each pilot tried to make his own way through the storm. One aircraft was seen to crash, and another disappeared in the gloom. Brown’s bomber (SBD-3 BuNo 03356) never returned Henderson Field.
Neither Brown nor his gunner, Corporal Robert S. Russell, were seen again. Both men were declared dead on 7 September 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
In July 1945, the wreck of an American aircraft was discovered near Doma Cove on Guadalcanal’s northwestern shore. A radial engine suggested an SBD-type bomber; serial numbers were retrieved from various parts of the airframe, and and eighteen-inch high number “21” was visible on the fuselage. Nearby was a crude cross grave inscribed “2 Men” and adorned with a speed plate from the aircraft. Badly shattered and commingled remains were exhumed from the grave and brought to the Guadalcanal cemetery for burial as unknowns.
A post-war investigation determined that the plane was possibly a Navy SBD, but the serial numbers did not match any manufacturer’s database. Colonel Richard Mangrum, the former CO of VMSB-232, recalled that his squadron lost their SBD #21 – and that Major Brown habitually flew this plane. However, Mangrum believed that Brown had crashed at sea, and commented “it would be very hard for him to believe” that the remains were those of Brown and Russell.
The two remains, designated X-182 and X-183, were buried in a common grave in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Plot D, Row 117, Grave 4). These may be the remains of Major Brown and Corporal Russell – only a DNA comparison will tell for sure.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Wartime address of wife, Mrs. Elynor F. Brown.
Location Of Loss
Brown and Russell were lost on a return flight from Gizo to Guadalcanal. Exact location is not known.
This is my grandfather. I have more photos of him for your website. He’s buried with his gunner in gravesite Q 493 at the Punchbowl cemetery in Honolulu, HI. Thank you for your efforts.
Respectfully,
Erik M Brown
Colonel (Retired)
US Army Special Forces
Col Brown,
I have some information on -232 and their operations at Guadalcanal and would like to correspond with you. I am not sure my email address will appear but hopefully we can connect.
Brandon S. Wood