78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group
Personal pictures, stories and web "links" submitted by 78th Fighter Group veterans, family and friends.
_Major Quince L. Brown, 84th Fighter Squadron, 4-21-43 to 9-6-44,
KIA
Major Quince L. Brown was a top scoring ace of the 78th Fighter Group with 14.333 credited aerial and ground victories. ( Source Credit: "Duxford Diary", East Anglian Aviation Society, 1975 reprint. )
Major Quince L. Brown was one of top scoring aces of the 78th Fighter Group. He was credited with 14.333 victories per 8th Air Force standards in less than two years in the ETO. He also distinguished himself as the first 8th Fighter Command P-47 pilot to participate in a ground strafing attack. During his second combat tour, he was shot down by enemy anti-arcraft fire, captured and murdered by a German civilian.
Quince Lucien Brown was born on December 7, 1941 in Hydrok, Oklahoma. He joined the Army Reserves and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. and received his wings on April 25, 1941 at Kelly Field, Texas. He then served as an instructor for two years at Randolph Field, Texas and Enid , Oklahoma. He logged over 1326 hrs., 45 min. training time.
"He was a superb pilot and much of his expertise could be attributed to his long period as an instructor "
reports Roger A. Freeman(1). He further writes:
"Quince was celebrating his 24th birthday when the Japanese attacked Pearl harbor on 7 December 1941, but he had to spend 19 months teaching other men to fly before going overseas to a combat theater. Even then he was assigned to the training base at Atcham and three months were to pass before he finally reached a combat squadron."
He was assigned to the 84th Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group at Duxford on April 21, 1943. He also was assigned a personal aircraft, a P-47D-6RE, s/n 42-74753, WZ-J, which was named "Okie" after his home state. 8.333 of Brown's 12.333 aerial victories were scored in this aircraft.
Quince L. Brown's first assigned personal aircraft, P-47-6RE s/n 42-74753, WZ-J, "Okie". 10 victory markings are shown(includes both aerial and ground kills per 8th Air Force claim criteria), suggesting the artwork depicts the aircraft in early April, 1944. The red bordered national insignia also confirms a Spring 1944 time frame. The markings in front of the personal artwork are small broom symbols indicating the number of "sweep" missions/sorties completed. ( Source Credit: Jerry Scutts via Chris Davey, "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", Osprey, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-729-5)
July 1943 was to become a memorable but sad month for Quince Brown and the 78th. During a fighter sweep mission on July 1, the Group's popular commanding officer, Lt. Col. Arman D. Peterson (2) was lost. Group morale was affected greatly as an air of personal loss prevailed at Duxford. Events picked up at the end of the month with the arrival of a new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Melvin McNickle(3) and the new 200 gallon unpressurized belly tanks. Group aircraft were quickly modified to accept the new tanks( known as "Babies"). The mission of July 30 was to be a debut for the new commander and the new auxiliary tanks. Group pilots expected a penetration mission into Germany and were not disappointed. The 78th would provide deep withdrawal support for 186 B-17s returning from Kassel, Germany. Shortly after the Group turned to join the bombers, the 78th lost it's second CO in less than a month when Col. McNickle collided with his wingman, 1st Lt. James Byers(4) . The Group had very little time to reflect on the loss, as about one hundred enemy aircraft attacked the bomber stream from front and rear. The 84th was first to attack dropping seven(7) enemy aircraft in the first pass. Quince Brown was bounced and chased to the deck by two FW-190s, which he soon outdistanced. Roger Freeman writes(1):
"The evasive action took him down to an altitude where the Thunderbolt was at a performance disadvantage. In such circumstances the favored method of evading interception was to apply maximum power and speed home over the tree tops. This Brown did and being over the enemy's territory decided to shoot at anything he saw that constituted a military target. He shot up a gun emplacement and freight train, bringing home to Duxford evidence of the damage the eight fifties could inflict. This was the first time that the Thunderbolt had been used for strafing, albeit by chance, a task at which it would later excel. "
Garry L. Fry reports(5):
" Brown followed the rail lines near Leiden, when he spotted the train and shot it up. When he crossed the Dutch coast he was flying so low to the water to avoid shore batteries his propeller struck the surface bending the tips on two blades".
He still made it back to Duxford. As bad as this month started out, this mission produced some significant firsts for the 78th Fighter Group, including: the first penetration into Germany for the 78th; the first 8th Air Force Fighter Ace, Captain Charles P. London(6); the first 8th Fighter Command strafing attack, 1st Lt. Quince L. Brown; the first 8th Air Force "triple" victory; Major Eugene P. Roberts(7); the highest 8th Air Force mission victory score to date( sixteen); the first 8th Fighter Command group to score in double figures.
An early picture of 1st Lt. Quince L. Brown and his personal aircraft, P-47-6RE s/n 42-74753, WZ-J, "Okie". The personal artwork can be seen clearly. The crew panel lists Brown and his ACC, T/Sgt William Jensen. Note, Quince is holding a dog, "Major" one of the 78th Group mascots. ( Source Credit: Frank Olynyk, "Stars and Bars, A Tribute To The American Fighter Ace, 1920-1973". 1995, Grub Street, ISBN 1-898697-17-5)
1st Lt. Quince Brown's first credited victory came on September 27, 1943. The 78th Fighter Group P-47s were assigned to give withdrawal support for the 1st and 3rd Bomb Divisions attacking industrial targets at Emden, Germany. This mission marked the first time that the Group flew with 108 gallon impregnated paper belly tanks to extend their range. This was a very successful trip for the Group, posting nine(9) victories without loss. The 84th Squadron was assigned mid cover at an altitude of 29,000 feet. As the Group approached the bombers leaving the target area, they observed about thirty enemy aircraft firing rockets and making 6 o'clock attacks on the "Big Friends". Quince Brown was following his Squadron Leader, Major Eugene Roberts(7), who couldn't get into good firing position on a Me-109. Brown managed to get good deflection and closed dead astern of the evasive e/a. He immediately scored hits and the 109 spouted flame and black smoke, pulled up into a stall and fell off towards the ground. Brown quickly rejoined his flight. The Group stayed with the bombers, fighting off attacks until they broke escort 40 miles off the Dutch coast due to low fuel.
1st Lt. Quince L. Brown and his personal aircraft, P-47-6RE s/n 42-74753, WZ-J, "Okie". The 4 victory markings suggest this picture was taken before January 30th, 1944. Brown had 4 aerial victories credited at that time. (Source Credit: Jerry Scutts, "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", Osprey, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-729-5)
During January 1944, Brown added four(4) more victories to his credit, including a " double" on January 4. The 78th was assigned withdrawal support on the 4th for the Third Bomb Division attacking targets at Munster, Germany. Garry L. Fry writes(5) of the events on January 4:
" Quince Brown leading Bayland Blue Flight with the 78th A Group dove on twelve plus enemy aircraft and fired at an Fw down to fifty yards, hitting him in both wing roots and in the belly. It was very badly afire as Brown pulled up and watched the smoking Focke Wulf spin down. Brown made a sharp right turn to come in behind a Fw-290 that was lining up on four P-47s. He shot at thirty degrees deflection and one ring of the lead. The Fw-290 took hits and poured flames from both wing roots as it pulled up and to the right before spinning down out of control smoking heavily". On the 30th, the 78th was escorting bombers near Rheine, Germany. Garry L. Fry reports(5): "Quince Brown swung around the last bomber box and spotted a lone aircraft 8,000 feet below. The stranger was flying in the sun and approaching from behind. Quince thought it as first it was a P-51 and flew alongside it. Realizing it was an Me-109 with a belly tank, he whipped around in a chandelle and closed to eighty five yards spraying it with hits. The Me dropped it's nose taking more hits in the belly. Fire shot out of the plane and it fell burning into an inverted spin through the cloud deck".
This victory brought Brown's total to five(5) and ace status.
Aircraft Crew Chief(ACC), T/Sgt William Jensen washes off oil and dirt from P-47-6RE s/n 42-74753, WZ-J, "Okie", 1st Lt. Quince L. Brown's assigned aircraft. 78th aircraft were cleaned as much as possible(even a light coating of wax was applied in some cases) to reduce fuel consuming drag. Note the 108 gallon steel belly tank and checkered inside wheel cover. (Source Credit: Garry L. Fry via Negley Sapper, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1)
Coming home from Hanover, Germany on March 15, 1944, the 84th saw another fighter unit being bounced by twenty plus enemy aircraft above them at 25,000 feet. William Hess and Thomas Ivie write(8) with regards to this mission:
" Lt. Quince Brown and his flight from the 78th B Group were on their way home and just west of Munster, Germany, when they sighted a big dogfight above them. Realizing that the German fighters would break for the deck, the Thunderbolts positioned themselves above the only opening in the clouds at 8,000 feet. Brown reported: 'As we got right under the dogfight, I saw a Me-109 come spinning down on fire. I also saw two P-47s chasing a Me-109 going straight down. I saw two Me-109s at about one o'clock to us and down about 500 feet. As we got about 600-800 yards from them they broke left and the fight was on. The two Me-109s tried everything they could to get away. I easily outturned them from 9,000 to 2,000 feet. Finally, I got on the tail of one of the Me-109s. He tried to outrun me in level flight. Then he tried to out climb me and I used water injection. I was gaining on him in the climb when he found a hole in the 10/10 clouds and started to dive. I easily closed to 275 yards and started firing. I saw hits on wings, engine, cockpit and tail. At the same time, I saw a fire start at the wing roots. As I pulled up, I saw the E/A spin several turns. ' The plane went into the overcast in flames".
The following day, March 16, the 78th was nearing it's bomber escort rendezvous point near Strasbourg. William Hess and Thomas Ivie report(8):
"Lt. Brown was leading a flight in the 78th A Group, giving withdrawal cover to the bombers of the 1st ATF, when he sighted a crippled B-24. He stayed with this bomber for about ten minutes when he sighted some activity down below. Leaving two other flights of P-47s to protect the B-24, he went down to 5,000 feet and sighted three Me-109s in the traffic pattern at an airdrome one mile west of St. Dizier, France. Throttling back and skidding from side to side to get a good deflection shot, he narrowed the gap to about 350 yards and opened up. The 109 took the full brunt of the blast and crashed to the left of the runway. Brown then pulled up and immediately sighted a Ju-88 parked on the far side of the field. He proceeded to set it on fire. As he departed the airfield, he fired into two more parked aircraft. Brown led his flight out of the area on the deck and then took them up to 7,000 feet. At this point, two FW-190s bounced the P-47s from nine o'clock. The Thunderbolts broke into them and all the aircraft wound up in a left-handed Lufbery. Several times, one of the 190s attempted to break and climb out, but Brown hit his water injection, caught them and they would break down once more. The wingman finally broke right and went into the clouds while the leader made a break and attempted to outrun the Jug. Brown then closed rapidly and sent the 190 crashing into a small creek. Brown headed for home but once more met with enemy opposition. Two Me-109s took the P-47s into another turning contest. Once more the wingman broke and made it into the clouds while Brown and the leader had it out. 'This leader was trying to outrun me just on the top of the clouds. The E/A threw out lots of black smoke in the chase. I was drawing 54 inches of Hg. Without water injection. At first he pulled away from me, but in about two minutes I could see I was closing on him. He then saw a hole in the clouds and went for it. I cut across to head him away from the hole and he turned away. In the turns he was making, I was catching up with him so he started some violent maneuvers, turning, zooming, skidding and diving to get away from as I approached the firing range. I took a few deflection shots but didn't' see any hits until I took a shot of about 25 degrees. At the time he was making a slow turn to the left. I saw strikes, producing smoke from the engine and wing roots . . . He was headed almost straight down into the clouds, smoking badly from the engine and wing roots.' Once more Brown headed for home since his gas was low, and his wingman called in a 109 on his six o'clock position. Fortunately, after the break, Brown's element leader was able to get on the tail of the 109 and drive him off."
Quince Brown was awarded the Silver Star for this four victory mission. The four victories in one mission also was a first for an 8th Fighter Command pilot. Quince was not flying "Okie" on this particular mission but P-47D-6RE, s/n 42-74723, WZ-X.
A 1944 picture of P-47D-6-RE, s/n 42-74753, WZ-V, "Okie" in the 84th Fighter Squadron dispersal area at Duxford. This was the second aircraft assigned to Quince Brown before the end of his first tour. Note the "Blister" hangar in the background and the black and white checkerboard nose markings applied in April 1944. When Quince Brown returned for his second combat tour, he was assigned a new personal aircraft, a NMF P-47D-21, s/n 42-25698, WZ-J. (Source Credit: Garry L. Fry via Richard Ballard, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1)
Garry L. Fry writes(5):
"On March 23, Quince Brown's Bayland Black Flight chased four enemy aircraft through a hole in the overcast near Goch, Germany at 1130 hours. Brown lost the Germans but going north a mile he met a Fw-190 coming head-on. Quince got on his tail as it passed and commenced to zooming up and breaking for the deck with the enemy., but he couldn't get him in his sights. The Jerry went to the deck below the treetops and tried to outrun Quince, zooming straight up and skidding, but Brown stuck with him despite his water injection not working. During one skid maneuver, Quince almost rammed the German aircraft, then fired at close range, hitting all around the cockpit and engine roots. The Focke Wulf exploded, showering pieces all around Brown, who did a violent wingover to 500 feet to avoid the debris. Coming home, Quince escorted two B-17 stragglers with their wheels and bomb bay doors down"
Garry L. Fry also reports on the actions of the strafing mission of March 30(5):
" The 84th split into two flights at Dieren and one flight went to Deelan Airdrome where results were nil. After leaving the airfield, a locomotive with flak firing cars behind it was left issuing clouds of steam. The other flight swept in over Twente/Enschede Airdrome where everyone lined up to blast a luckless Do-217 caught in the traffic pattern. It was promptly dispatched. Heading on to Coesfield, Germany, Quince Brown's flight found a suspicious factory building which detonated violently under their concentrated fire. " Brown was credited with 0.33 of a shared victory. Garry continues reporting on Quince Brown with regards to the bomber escort mission of April 12: "At 1310 hours, Quince Brown was leading part of 78th A group near Duren, Germany when thirty plus Fw-190s and Me-109s emerged from the heavy clouds going in the opposite direction. Quince's 84th turned and pursued in a steep climbing turn that overtook the enemy formation. The German squadrons scattered and dove for the deck. Brown picked out an Fw-190 with a belly tank and at 5,000 feet, raked the Fw from left wingtip to cockpit. The enemy aircraft exploded, Quince flying safely through the flame and debris".
Quince Brown was promoted to Captain during this period and appointed 84th Squadron Operations Officer on May 26, 1944.
On completion of his first combat tour( 300 combat hours - changed in early May 1944 from 200 hours) in July 1944, Quince Brown left for 30 days' extended leave back home to Bristow, Oklahoma. He had an opportunity to return to instructing, but volunteered to go back to Duxford and the 78th Group for a second tour. He returned to the 84th Squadron on August 28, 1944 and received a new personal aircraft, a P-47D-21, 42-25698, WZ-J, which was nicknamed "Okie II" He was also promoted from Captain to Major. Further combat missions took his score of enemy aircraft to 12.3 air victories he was the only man in the 78th Group with a score in double figures at the time. He was also credited by the 8th Air Force with two(2) ground victories which brought his total to 14.3.
Major Quince L. Brown was assigned this aircraft at the start of his second combat tour in August 1944. The aircraft was a P-47D-21, s/n 42-25698, WZ-J, which was named "Okie II". ( Source Credit: Jerry Scutts via Chris Davey, "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", Osprey, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-729-5)
___
(Left)Captain Quince L. Brown in the cockpit of P-47D-21, s/n 42-25698, WZ-J, "Okie II". The panel below the cockpit shows the final tally of victories he achieved in this aircraft. (Source Credit: Garry L. Fry via Duke Morrison, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1). (Right)ACC T/Sgt William Jensen is shown with Quince Brown's "Okie II", P-47D-21, s/n 42-25698, WZ-J, at Duxford. (Source Credit: William Hess, "Aces and Wingmen II, Volume II", 1999, Aviation USK, ISBN 0-9623080-2-1)
On the day of his loss, his 136th sortie, the 78th was assigned to strafe enemy installations in the Gemund area. The weather was poor with only about three-quarters of a mile visibility although a solid overcast at some 2,000 feet offered a refuge if enemy defenses were encountered. Brown was leading his squadron, flying P-47D-28, s/n 44-19569, WZ-Z in the assigned target area when at approximately 1455 hrs he spotted Vogelsland airfield and radioed his intention of going to investigate. As the flight approached in line astern formation they met heavy ground fire. His aircraft was seen hit by tracers and after crossing the airfield and climbing sharply to about 1,200 feet, Brown jettisoned the canopy and baled out. He was seen to land safely in a field, 2 km west of Schleiden near the town of Weirmuehle and to run and hide in some long grass.
On the mission of September 1, 1944, Major Quince Brown was flying this aircraft, P-47D-27, s/n 42-26567, WZ-V, when he scored his last victory, an Me-109 near liege. ( Source Credit: Jerry Scutts, "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", Osprey, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-729-5)
Jerry Scutts writes of the events that day(9):
"What happened was related by 1st. Lt. Richard L. Baron(10), one of Brown's flight members. 'Brown called and said he was going to go over it (Vogesland airfield) and investigate. He made a steep turn and we ended up in string formation. He went over first and I saw tracers going at him, so I hit low for the deck. I looked up and saw several strikes on his plane. He pulled up sharply as we got across and I pulled along side. I saw his plane shake and his canopy come off. He then bailed out at about 1200 feet. His parachute opened and I saw him land in a field. He then ran and lay down in some tall grass. ' ".
Following a successful bailout and apparent evasion events took a turn for the worse for Quince Brown. Roger A. Freeman reports(1):
"Apparently apprehended by a German civilian with a gun, Brown was taken prisoner. But before the military arrived he was shot in the back of the head at close range and killed. The civilian informed the German authorities that the US pilot had tried to escape, but in 1946 a War Crimes court found him guilty of murder and ordered his execution. In those final months of hostilities, Quince Brown was one of many Allied fliers killed out of hand by irate civilians. Personal loss or the general devastation and casualties resulting from air attack generated intense hatred. "
Assumed alive and possibly a POW by his friends at Duxford, it wasn't until April 1945, when his grave was discovered in Germany that reality came home.
Quince L. Brown's personal awards included the Silver Star, five(5) DFCs and six(6) AMs. On October 15, 1994 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame.
Webmasters Notes:
(1) - Source Credit - Roger A. Freeman, "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", 1990, Motorbooks International, ISBN 0-87938-495-6
(2) - Lt. Col. Arman D. Peterson - Lt. Col. Arman D. Peterson, to 78th FG on 5-7-42 to 7-1-43, KIA. First Group CO. Lost over the English Channel near Ouddorp, Belgium. last seen engaging enemy aircraft at 29,000 feet.
(3) - Lt. Col. Melvin F. McNickle - Lt. Col. Melvin F. McNickle, to 78th FG on 7-12-43 to 7-30-43, assigned as Group CO, POW. o\On the July 30, 1943 mission, he collided with his 84th Squadron wingman 1st. Lt. James F. Byers near Winterswijk, Netherlands, when his oxygen system failed. Lt. Byers bailed out, but died as a result of injuries in the collision. Col. McNickle survived the resulting crash of his aircraft, P-47D, s/n 42-7691, WZ-M. He was rescued by the Dutch Underground, but due to severe injuries, he was turned over to the Germans for proper medical treatment and interned as a POW.
(4) - Lt. James Byers - 1st. Lt. James F. Byers, pilot in the 84th FS from 4-17-43 to 7-30-43, KIA. Collided with Lt. Col. Melvin McNickle, Group CO, over Winterswijk, Netherlands at 28,000 feet just as enemy aircraft were engaged.
(5) - Source Credit - Garry L. Fry, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1
(6) - Captain Charles P. London - pilot in the 83rd FS from 5-11-42 to 11-1-43 to US. A Flt CO on 7-15-43. First 8th Air Force Ace on 7-30-43.
(7) - Major Eugene P. Roberts - Lt. Colonel Eugene P. Roberts, pilot in 84th FS from 5-10-42 to 9-3-43, Squadron CO, to 78th HQ Squadron, Deputy CO.
(8) - Source Credit - William N. Hess and Thomas G. Ivie, "Fighters of the Mighty Eighth, 1942-1945", 1990, Motorbooks International, ISBN 0-87938-460-3
(9) - Source Credit - Jerry Scutts, "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", Osprey, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-729-5
(10) - 1st. Lt. Richard L. Baron - 1st. Lt. Richard L. Baron, pilot in the 84th FS from 6-26-44 to 11-8-44 to US, "C" Flight CO, 9-25-44
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Major Quince L. Brown's Gallery
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This page was last revised on 11 / 09 / 04
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