William P. Brown was born in Lovelady, Texas, on December 18, 1923. On September 5, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Navy under the Aviation Cadet Program. He was commissioned in the Marines as a Second Lieutenant on November 16, 1943, and sent to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended F4U Corsair Combat Marine Fighter Operation Training. Afterwards, he was assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 462 at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California. Brown was sent overseas where he was ultimately assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 311 during the battle of Okinawa in April 1945. On April 28, he shot down two Japanese planes. Just six days later on May 4, Brown personally shot down four Japanese planes in four minutes and earned the title of ace as well as his first Navy Cross. He scored a total of seven aerial victories during the battle and was the leading ace of his squadron. Brown then was briefly stationed at Peleliu and was there when the war ended. He was also awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses during the war.
Post-World War II
Brown was then assigned as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in December 1945. He married in 1947 and had two daughters with his wife. In September 1947, he was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and remained there until January 1950. He attended numerous courses afterwards before deploying to Korea.
Korean War and death
On February 6, 1952, Captain Brown left the United States and arrived in Korea on February 15, where he was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Just nine days later, on February 24, Brown was temporarily attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 323 and took part in an eight plane strike against enemy railroads and bridges in Sariwon, North Korea. He successfully dropped a 1,000 pound bomb on a rail line when he spotted an enemy truck convoy entering a heavily defended supply facility. He unhesitatingly pressed a strafing attack on the convoy while taking continuous anti-aircraft fire. Despite his plane taking catastrophic hits and bursting into flames, he continued his dive, firing his guns until his plane crashed and exploded in the middle of the convoy. William P. Brown's body was never recovered. For his actions during his last combat mission, Brown was posthumously awarded his second Navy Cross. Several cenotaphs have been erected in his honor, including one in his hometown.
