Edward was born in Deaver, Wyoming on 30 July 1921. The Brown family (Andrew and Violet, plus children Mary, Bruce, Clair, and Edward) moved around the American west during the 1920s and 1930s; Edward would spend about seven years of his childhood in Utah before ultimately returning to Wyoming and the small town of Lingle.

Edward graduated from Lingle High School and was accepted at the University of Wyoming, where he studied for two years. Between taking classes and working at the student union, he dreamed of flying – and enrolled in the CPA to earn his pilot’s license. This training came in handy in January 1942, when Edward decided to join the United States Navy.

After joining the Navy Reserve on 31 January 1942, Brown entered the rigorous training regimen of a naval aviator. His personal experience led to his appointment as a Civilian Cadet in July of 1942, and his eventual assignment to advanced flight training in Jacksonville, Florida. Brown received his wings as a fighter pilot and a Marine second lieutenant’s commission on 14 January 1943.

After another few months of training and preparation at Jacksonville, 2Lt. Brown was assigned to VMF-224, a Marine fighter squadron then stationed in California. From there, he deployed overseas with VMF-212. He was soon flying training and familiarization missions in the Central Pacific – with the rank of first lieutenant – in preparation for a combat tour in the northern Solomon Islands.

Combat flights out of Barakoma began in October 1943, and soon VMF-212 was flying patrols over Bougainville. Lieutenant Brown logged a handful of missions, but scored no known kills during this tour.

At 1115 hours on 8 November 1943, eight VMF-212 pilots took off for a patrol over Empress Augusta Bay. Lieutenant Brown was among them, flying a F4U-1 Corsair with bureau number 02656.

Over the bay, the Marines spotted “a bogey estimated as 18-20 VAL Mark 2s and 35-40 ZEKES approaching the shipping in Empress Augusta Bay.” Despite the heavy odds, the Corsairs attacked.  The result was a lopsided victory, with Marine pilots claiming three definite kills, plus four probables and two others damaged.

Lieutenant Brown disappeared from sight in the opening moments of the dogfight, and did not join up with his division for the flight home. As they passed the mouth of the Torokina River, sharp-eyed 1Lt. William D. Leo spotted an aircraft the water near the beach. He easily identified the plane as an F4u, and could see the pilot standing on the wing, apparently unhurt.

Leo reported his sighting when the flight returned to base. No other Corsairs were seen in the area, so VMF-212 concluded that the downed plane was theirs, and the pilot was Lieutenant Brown. They fully anticipated his return to the squadron, but it was not to be. Brown was never seen again.

Edward Brown’s exact fate remains a mystery to this day. He was officially declared dead on 11 January 1946.

CENOTAPHS
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Hillcrest Cemetery, Lingle, Wyoming